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PASTOR'S HAND BOOK. 



A RITUAL OF 

SCRIPTURAL AND POETICAL SELECTIONS AND 

STUDIES FOR WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, 

AND OTHER OFFICIAL DUTIES. 



BY 



W; W. EVERTS, 



REVISED EDITION 




CHICAGO: 
JOHN C. BUCKBEE & C0. ? PUBLISHERS, 

122 WABASH AVENUE. 



b 






Entered, according to Act or congress, in the year 1885, by 

FUNK & WAGNALLS, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C 

Copyright, 1887, 
BY JOHN C. BUCKBEE AND COMPANY. 

All Rights Reserved. 




t 

DEDICATION 



TO CHRISTIAN PASTORS, 

IN THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES SO OFTEN CALLED To 
CELEBRATE MARRIAGES; TO MINISTER IN THE 
SICK ROOM. AND AT FUNERALS: AND TO 
COUNSEL, OR PRESIDE. IN ECCLE- 
SIASTICAL ASSEMBLIES. 

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
BY THEIR FELLOW- LABORER, 

W. W. EVERTS. 



PROEM. 



The Pastor's Haxd Book was first issued forty 
vears ago ; and the Bible Manual, Bible Prayer Book, 
and Scripture School Header, by the same author, 
appeared soon after. The material and methods of 
these books have been incorporated into several sub- 
sequent manuals for ministers and churches with- 
out acknowledgment. Notwithstanding such rivalry 
this Hand Book has held its precedence, and is now 
in tlie hands of thousands of preachers of various 
denominations throughout the land. Having im- 
proved its arrangement, and added to the fullness 
and variety of its matter, we confidently rededicate 
the Hand Book to our brethren in the ministry. 

W. W. Everts. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Proem, 

Pastoral Office, . . 
Entrance upon Pastoral Office, 

Preaching, 

Benedictions, .;.... 
Scripture Selections for Marriage, 
Form of Marriage, 

W. B. Williams. . 

G. B. Cheever. . 

B. W. Cushman. . 

8. 8. Cutting. . 

W. W. Everts, Jr. 

John Stanford Holme. 
Scripture Selections for Sick Room, 
Sckipture Reading for Sick Room, 
Devotional Excerpta, 
Poetical Selections, . 



Funeral of Infant, 

" Child, 

" Youth, 

" Adult, 

(< Old Age, 

" Unbeliever, 

Sudden Death, 
Resurrection, . . 
Scripture Expositions for Funerals, 

Burial Service 

Devotional Excerpta, . . 
Benediction at Grave, 
Scripture Selections for Baptism, . 
Formulas for Administration of Baptism, 
Scripture Selections for Lord's Supper, 
Devotional Excerpta for Lord's Supper, 
Rules of Order, ..... 
Church Benevolence and Finance, 
Tables for Statistics, 



PAGE 

5 



10 
12 
13 
16 
18 
21 
24 
25 
26 
26 
32 
32 
33 
36 
39 
44 
49 
52 



71 
76 

83 

84 
85 
86 
87 
88 
89 
96 
108 
116 



PASTORAL OFFICE. 




! ND I will give you pastors according to mine heart, 
which shall feed you with knowledge and under- 
standing, — Jer. iii. 15. 



And I w r ill set up shepherds over them which shall feed 
them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither 
shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. — Jer. xxiii. 4. 

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, 
he desireth a good work. 

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, 
vigilant, sober of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to 
teach ; 

Not given to wine, ncr striker, not greedy of filthy lucre ; 
but patient, not a brawler, not covetous ; 

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in 
subjection with all gravity; 

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how 
shall he take care of the church of God ?) 

Not a novice, lest being lifted up w r ith pride he fall into 
the condemnation of the devil. 

Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are 
without ; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 
—1 Tim. iii. 1-7. 

These things teach and exhort. 

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome 
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the 
doctrine which is according to godliness ; 

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions 
and strifes of words w r hereof cometh envy, strife, railings, 
evil surmi sings, 



8 PASTORAL OFFICE. 

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute 
of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness : from such 
withdraw thyself. 

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain 
we can carry nothing out. 

And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, 
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in 
destruction and perdition. 

For the love of money is the root of all evil : which while 
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and 
pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

But thou, O man of God, flee these things ; and follow after 
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, 
whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good 
profession before many witnesses. 

I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all 
things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate 
witnessed a good confession ; ^ 

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebuke- 
able, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, 
avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of 
science falsely so called : 

Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. 
Grace be with thee. Amen. — 1 Tim. vi. 2-14, 20, 21. 

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up 
the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my 
hands. 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard 
of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by 
the Holy Ghost which dweileth in us. — 2 Tim. \. 6, IB, 14. 

1 charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appear- 
ing and his kingdom ; 



PASTORAL OFFICE. 9 

Preach tlie word ; be instant in season, ont of season ; re- 
prove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

For the time will co?ne when they will not endure sound 
doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to them- 
selves teachers, having itching ears ; 

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and 
shall be turned unto fables. 

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work 
of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my de- 
parture is at hand. 

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I 
have kept the faith : 

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous- 
ness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at 
that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that 
love his appearing.— 2 Tim. iv. 1-8. 

CIRCUMSPECT ENTRANCE UPON IT. 

1. Am I conscious of my helpless condition without Christ ; 
and do I seek in Him salvation and eternal life ? 

2. Do I hate and strive against sin, and seek to be holy in 
the sight of God, through the grace that is in Christ Jesus ? 

3. Do I habitually endeavor to do the will of God and build 
up his kingdom in the name of Jesus Christ ? 

4. May it not be possible that I have entered the ministry 
as a means of living or as an honorable profession, or to build 
up a sect ? 

5. Have I the love of souls, the meekness, patience, discre- 
tion, knowledge, and aptness to teach necessary to authenti- 
cate a Divine call to the ministry, and qualify me for its sacred 
duties ? 

6. As the piety of the church is not likely to rise above 
x hat of her ministry, am I a worthy exemplar of the gospel I 
preach ? 

7. As religious teachers are largely responsible for the per- 
petuation of sects and sectarianism, will it be my constant 
aim so to exalt the truth as to promote the reunion of the 
Church of Christ ? 



10 PREACHING. 

8. By care of health, heart, temper, conduct, and by prayer- 
fill study, will I strive to make the most of my ministry in 
the church I serve, and in building up the cause of Christ 
throughout the world ? 



PREACHING. 



SUBJECTS GENERALLY TO BE AVOIDED AS 
THEMES OF DISCOURSE. 

1. Doctrines of natural religion as not sufficiently distin- 
guishing a Christian ministry. 

2. Evidences of Christianity as unnecessary to the mass of 
hearers, and less convincing to the skeptical in such partial 
statement than a book of evidences. 

3. Mysteries of religion as usually perplexing without en 
lightening hearers. 

4. Higher Calvinism as prejudicing more practical doctrines 
of piety. 

5. Types as difficult to be treated with discretion and tempt- 
ing to wild fancies. 

6. Particular sins, because they are more likely to be exter- 
minated by inculcating the opposite virtues than by direct 
attacks, and an undue proportion of legal preaching. 

7. Subjects of great terror as better introduced in infer- 
ences or illustrations of discourses. 

8. The same verse or chapter for a series of sermons as fur. 
nishing less variety to the hearers. 

SUBJECTS TO BE PREFERRED. 

1. Those relating directly to Christ — his incarnation, per- 
son, character, mission, life, teaching, miracles, passion, re- 
surrection, ascension, intercession, everlasting kingdom and 
glory. 



PREACHING. 11 

2. The covenant of grace ratified through the atonement, 
the nature and promise of faith, repentance, justification and 
sanctification. 

3. Influence of the Holy Spirit in conversion and sanctifica- 
tion, encouragement to walk, in the Spirit, and cautions 
against grieving Him. 

4. The believer's pardon, adoption, perseverance, and heav- 
enly inheritance. 

5. Duties to the Church and to the world. 

6. Obligations of Divine ordinances. 

T. Temptations and discouragements of the believer. 

8. Sacred narratives, biographies, and various exposition of 
the Scriptures. 

9. Guilt, misery, and punishment of sin. 

10. Death, judgment, and eternity. 

11. Heaven. 

COMPOSITION OF SERMONS. 

1. By reading, observation, conversation, and reflection be 
ever accumulating thoughts, illustrations, and plans for ordi- 
nary and for special sermons. These materials should be 
classified in some Index Rerum, or in pigeon-holes for notes, 
ready for use. 

2. When desiring a subject for discourse, having asked 
Divine illumination and guidance, glance over your line of 
subjects, sketches, and plans, and select one that awakens 
fresh interest or is specially adapted to the circumstances of 
the congregation. 

3. By careful exegesis ascertain the meaning of the text, 
and, as far as possible, draw plan and illustration of dis- 
course from the context. Arbitrary divisions betray barren- 
ness of invention, and furnish only a mechanical and insipid 
variety. 

4. Having reflected upon the plan, illustrations, and appli- 
cations of the discourse during the early part of the week, 
and having chosen a time least liable to interruption, and 
most favorable to the vigorous use of the mind, write out the 
discourse at a single sitting. A careful revision, with erasures 
and interlineations, may complete the preparation. 



12 PREACHING. 

DELIVERY OF SERMONS. 

1. Deliver them without notes. A sermon sufficiently 
studied needs no such, helps ; while their use restricts free- 
dom, represses passion, and obstructs the eloquence of the eye, 
the features, and of gestures. 

2. Determine the pitch of the voice by the distance of the 
hearers and the compass of your vocal powers. If you pitch 
the voice too low, you are not heard, or your sermon is less 
impressive from the effort to hear. If you pitch too high, 
you lose the sweetness and harmony of the voice, and weary 
the audience with its ranting tones. The reading of notices 
just before preaching will assure the right pitch. 

3. Perfect your vocabulary, study the emphasis and pro- 
nunciation of the best speakers, always suiting the sound to 
the sense, and avoiding faulty diction and slang phrases. 

4. Careful reading of Scriptures and hymns adds to the 
effect of the sermon. 

5. The manner should vary with the subject, and glow 
with an appreciation of the great truths proclaimed. A dead 
preacher preaching to a dead people the living words of the 
living Gfod is a spectacle to appall angels. 

BENEDICTIONS. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be wit> you all. 
Amen. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 
Amen. 

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in 
sincerity. 

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead 
our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you 
perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you 



MAREIAGE. 13 

that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesns Christ, 
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, 
enabling you to receive the truth in the love of it, to do 
the will of God from the heart, and keeping you unto his 
kingdom and glory. Amen. 

Grace, mercy, and peace abound to you and the whole 
Israel of God throughout the world, through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 

Grace be with us all ; and may the word of God dwell in us 
richly, in all spiritual knowledge and understanding ; and lead 
us to impart to others perishing for lack of vision its revela- 
tions and promises of salvation. Ameu. 

Grace be with us all, enabling us by faith to receive the 
great salvation, and ever pray and labor for its diffusion till it 
is made known to the ends of the earth. 

The Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the Lord make his 
face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee ; the Lord 
lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 



MARRIAGE. 



And God said, Let lis make man in our image, 
after our likeness : and let them have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and 
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every 
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

So God created man in his own image, in the 
image of God created he him ; male and female cre- 
ated he them. — Gen, i. 26, 27. 



14 MARRIAGE. 

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his 
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they 
shall be one flesh. — Gen. ii. 24. 

Because the Lord hath been witness between thee 
and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast 
dealt treacherously : yet is she thy companion, and 
the wife of thy covenant. 

And did not he make one? Yet had he the resi- 
due of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he 
might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to 
your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against 
the wife of his youth. 

For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he 
hateth putting away : for one covereth violence with 
his garment, saith the Lord of hosts : therefore take 
heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 
— Mat ii. 14-16. 

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and 
obtaineth favor of the Lord. — Prov. xviii. 22. 

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana 
of Galilee ; and the mother of Jesus was there : 

And both Jesus was called, and liis disciples, to 
the marriage. — John ii. 1, 2*. 

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, 
and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put 
away his wife for every cause ? 

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye 
not read, that he which made them at the beginning 
made them male and female, 

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father 



MARRIAGE. 15 

and mother, and shall cleave to his wife : and thej 
twain shall be one flesh ? 

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. 
What therefore God hath joined together, let not 
man put asunder. 

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command 
to give a writing of divorcement, and to put hei 
away ? 

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hard- 
ness of your hearts suffered you to put away your 
wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his 
wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry 
another, committeth adultery : and whoso marrieth 
her which is put away doth commit adultery. — 
Matt xix. 3-9. 

Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as 
unto the Lord. 

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as 
Christ is the head of the church ; and he is the 
Saviour of the body. 

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so 
let the wives be to their own husbands in every 
thing. 

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also 
loved the church, and gave himself for it ; 

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the 
washing of water by the word, 

That he might present it to himself a glorious 
church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such 
thing ; but that it should be holy and without 
blemish. 



16 MARRIAGE. 

So ought men to love their wives as their own 
bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but 
nourisheth it and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the 
church : 

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and 
< f his bones. 

For this cause shall a man leave his father and 
mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they 
two shall be one flesh. 

This is a great mystery : but I speak concerning 
Christ and the church. 

Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so 
love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that 
she reverence her husband. — Eph. v. 22-33. 

FORM OF MARRIAGE 

Addressing those present. 

Marriage is as old as the family of man. Our Creator 
himself instituted it in the Garden. Moses made it 
the foundation of social order. Christ re-enforced it 
with more spiritual sanctions. The Apostles de- 
clared it to be honorable in all. Emanating thus ' 
from supreme authority, preceding all other social 
compacts, and authorized and guarded in both dis- 
pensations by civil and divine law, marriage cannot 
undergo change or pass away, but must remain the 
same and unalterable — the foundation of domestic 
happiness, social welfare, and civil government to 
the end of time. Wherever dishonored, the care and 
education of childhood is neglected, jealousy, aliena- 
tion, and strife promoted, and society precipitated 



MARRIAGE. 17 

into anarchy and mutual antagonisms. As these 
two now wish to assume a common name, and blend 
their temporal interests in this responsible and 
blessed ordinance of marriage, I require and charge 
all and each of you now present, if you know any 
cause why they should not be thus lawfully joined 
together in matrimony, you do now make it known. 

Addressing the parties* 

In token of a due consideration on your part of 
the obligations of marriage, and of your free, delib- 
erate, and decided choice of each other as partners 
in its duties and fellowship for life, you will please 
unite your right hands. 

To the man. 

Do you, A B, promise, before Almighty God and 
these witnesses, to receive this woman to be your 
wedded and lawful wife, to love and cherish her in 
health and in sickness, in prosperity and in adver- 
sity; and that, leaving all others, you will cleave only 
to her until separated by death ? Answer. I do. 

To the woman. 

Do you, C D, in like manner, promise to receive 
this man as your wedded and lawful husband, to 
love, respect, and obey him according to God's ordi- 
nances; and that, leaving all others, you will cleave 
only to him until separated by death ? I do. 

The man, putting the ring on the fourth finger of 
the woman's left hand, repeats, after the minister, 
these words : 

With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly 
goods and my heart's best affections I thee endow. 



18 MARKLAGE. 

The minister adding : 

May this gift remain a fit emblem of the brighter 
link uniting your hearts, of the richer circle of your 
common joys, and, as it is without end, may your 
happiness endure forever. A 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Spirit, I pronounce you husband and wife — 
One in the eye of the law — one in all your temporal 
interests and destinies — one in all the events and 
changes of life. And what God hath joined together 
let not man put asunder. 

FORM OF MARRIAGE. 

Furnished by W. R. Williams. 

Having inquired the names and residence of the 
parties, and the names and residence of the wit- 
nesses, and whether there be any just hindrances to 
the marriage, the following form is used in celebrat- 
ing marriage : 

ADDRESS. 

Divine Eevelation, my friends, has declared mar- 
riage to be honorable in all. It is an institution of 
God, established in the time of man's innocency, ere 
he had yet sinned against his Maker, and been ban- 
ished from Paradise. It was given in wisdom and 
in kindness, for the benefit of the race, to increase 
human happiness, to repress irregular affection, to 
support social order, and to provide that through 
well-ordered families truth and holiness might be 
transmitted from one age to another. It lies at the 
basis of all human society, and all government and 
law are built upon the household relations. 



MARKIAGE. 19 

From the history of our blessed Saviour, we learn 
that he honored a marriage festival with his presence, 
and wrought there the beginning of his miracles; 
and, by his Holy Spirit speaking in his Apostle, he 
has selected the relation thus formed, as an apt em- 
blem of the union, endeared and indissoluble, that 
exists between himself and his church. 

An union thus consecrated, should therefore be 
undertaken, not thoughtlessly and irreverently, but 
discreetly, advisedly, and in the fear of God, and with 
a due regard to the purposes for which matrimony 
was at first ordained. 

APPEAL 

And now, as in the sight of God the searcher of 
hearts, and as you will answer it on that day when 
the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest, I 
charge you to declare if there be any cause which 
should prevent your lawful union. 

ADDRESS RESUMED. 

As the ties now T to be assumed should be sundered 
only by death, it becomes you to consider well the 
duties enjoined upon you as husband and wife. If 
duly remembered and faithfully discharged, they will 
smooth the rugged pathway of life, lightening, by 
dividing its sorrows, and heightening, by doubling 
its enjoyments; if neglected and violated, you can- 
not escape misery and guilt. 

It is the duty of the husband to be the friend, 
counsellor, and guardian of his wife, shielding her 
from danger, providing for her support, and cherish- 
ing for her a manly and unalterable affection ; it 
being required by the word of God that husbands 



20 MARRIAGE. 

love their wives, even as Christ also loved the church 
and gave himself for it. 

It is the duty of the wife to be the friend, com- 
panion, and solace of her husband, reverencing and 
obeying him, and putting on the ornament of a 
meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God 
of great price, it being commanded by Scripture, 
that, as the church is subject unto Christ, so should 
wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

It is the duty of both to cherish and ever to mani- 
fest mutual affection; to preserve an inviolable fidelity; 
to delight each in the society of the other; to culti- 
vate a just sense of their respective duties ; to train 
wisely all who may, in their household, be brought 
under their influence; to remember that in interest 
and in reputation, as in affection, they are to be 
henceforth one and indivisible, and to see to it 
that what God hath joined together, man put not 
asunder. 

The parties joining hands. 

Do you, A B, take C D, whom you now hold by 
the hand, as your true and lawful wife, and will you 
love, cherish, honor, and protect her; in sickness and 
in health, in prosperity and in adversity, and through 
every change of condition, forsaking all others, will 
you cleave only and ever unto her, until God by 
death shall separate you ? 

Do you, C D, take A B, whom you now hold by 
the hand, as your true and lawful husband, and will 
you love, cherish, honor and obey him ; in sickness 
and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, and 
through every change of condition, forsaking all 



MARRIAGE. 21 

others, will you cleave only and ever unto him, until 
God by death shall separate you ? 

Prayer is then offered. 
FORM OF MARRIAGE. 

Furnished by GL B. Cheevek. 

The parties standing together in presence of the 
Minister and witnesses, will join first in the follow- 
ing invocation for the Divine blessing. 

INVOCATION. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, be pleased, in thy 
great mercy, to look upon us, be present with us, and 
bless us in this sacred ceremony. Graciously regard 
thy servants, about to enter into this solemn con- 
tract as the ordinance of God. Make them duly sen- 
sible of the holy vows and responsibilities they are 
taking upon themselves. May they remember that 
Thou, God, seest them. May thy grace make their 
motives pure, their love sincere, their purposes of 
faithfulness to each other and to thee deep and abid- 
ing. Prepare their hearts to receive and take these 
vows, not blindly nor carelessly, but in the love and 
the fear of God. Give them a holy and lasting sense 
of their dependence upon thee for thy blessing. 
Evermore, daily, constantly and together, may they 
seek thy blessing, and do thou in tender mercy now 
and evermore bestow it upon them, through Jesus 
Christ our Bedeemer. Amen. 

Here the Minister may read one or two passages in 
the word of God, especially Ephesians v. 22, 23. 

God hath said, it is not good for man to be alone. 



44 MARRIAGE. 

and hath provided an helpmeet for him. For this 
cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave 
unto his wife, and they twain- shall be one flesh. 
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. 

The parties noiv taking each other by the hand, the 
Minister will say : 

You, A B, declare, before God and these witnesses, 
that you have chosen this woman, whom you hold by 
the hand, to be your lawful and wedded wife; and 
you promise to be to her a faithful and affectionate 
husband, till death shall separate you. 

You, C D, avow before God and these witnesses, 
that you have chosen this man, whom you hold by 
the hand, to be your lawful and wedded husband; 
and you promise to be to him a faithful, affectionate, 
obedient wife, till death shall separate you. 

Thus you mutually promise. 

I do now therefore pronounce you, according to the 
law^s of God and of this land, husband and wife, one 
flesh in the sacred ordinance of marriage. What God 
hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

Let us pray. 

Most merciful God, our Heavenly Father! We 
thank thee, that in thy great mercy to mankind thou 
hast instituted the sacred and ever-blessed ordinance 
of marriage. We thank thee, gracious Saviour, 
that thou wast pleased thyself to be present at the 
marriage in Cana of Galilee. As thou wast merci- 
fully there, the fountain of all blessings, so in infinite 
compassion be thou here, with thy rich blessing upon 
this married couple. Ever may they feel their de- 
pendence upon thee. Ever may they come to thee 



MARRIAGE. 23 

for grace and guidance. Teach thou them to love 
each other in the Lord. So may they be united, not 
only in the ties of earthly relationship and affection, 
but in that bond of love which will be eternal, in 
the love of God, in the grace of Christ, in the peace 
and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Keep them, God, 
by thy grace, ever faithful to their marriage vows. 
In all times of prosperity, and in all times of adver- 
sity, may they be sharers in each other's joys and 
sympathizers and supporters in each other's sorrows. 
Grant them so much of earthly happiness and pros- 
perity as thou shalt see best for them, and may all 
their blessings lead them constantly to thee. In 
whatever adversity thou mayest see necessary foi 
their discipline, may they comfort and love each 
other with more tender affection, and walk more 
closely and fervently with God. May thy. Word, be 
their guide, thy Spirit their guardian and sanctifier. 
Be thou the covenant God of them and their family, 
renewing their hearts by thy grace, and ever leading 
them to walk together as heirs together of the grace 
of life. In every thing, by prayer and supplication 
with thanksgiving, may they let their requests be 
made known unto God, and may the peace of God, 
which passeth all understanding, keep their hearts 
and minds through Christ Jesus. And at length may 
they and theirs be admitted to form a blessed family 
in heaven, through thine infinite grace in Christ our 
Eedeemer. Amen. 

ADDRESS AFTER PRAYER. 

In accordance with your solemn promises, thus 
made to each other and your God, I do pronounce 



24 MARRIAGE. 

you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, of 
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

And may the God, in whose presence you have 
entered into this solemn covenant, look upon you in 
mercy, to preserve and prosper you, make you blessed 
and a blessing in the sphere you may be called to oc-^ 
cupy, and bringing you through all the troubles and 
perils of this brief and evil life,*grant you a glad and 
eternal reunion in heaven. Amen. 

FORM FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE. 

Furnished by R. W. Cushman. 

The institution of marriage is coeval with the family of 
man. Our Creator himself is its author, and it is subject to 
the directions and sanctions of his laws. He saw that it was 
not good for man to be alone, even in Paradise ; and formed 
and gave to him woman for his companionship and solace, in 
a union so intimate and so tender, that they were regarded as 
" no more twain but one flesh. " This union, like that of the 
body and the spirit, is to be broken only by the hand of death. 
It is a relation, therefore, not to be lightly or hastily entered. 
A congeniality of mind, a mutual esteem, and an affection 
which transcends every other earthly love, are indispensable 
to the happiness which the relation is designed to impart. 

In the sacred Scriptures, which are the lamp for your path 
in every other relation, you wil^find the directions which you 
need in this; and which, if strictly and cheerfully obeyed, 
will continue to give freshness and vigor to your joys when 
youth and beauty shall have passed away. Deeming it suffi- 
cient on this occasion to refer you to their instructions con- 
cerning the duties you will henceforth owe to each other, I 
will proceed to receive your mutually plighted faith, and seal 
your marriage vow. You will please take each other by the 
right hand. 

Do you, A B, take the lady whose right hand you now hold, 
to be your lawful, wedded wife, promising, in the presence of 
God and of these witnesses, that you will keep her in health 



MARRIAGE. 25 

and in sickness : in prosperity and in adversity ; that you will 
be to her a kind, affectionate, and faithful husband ; and that, 
forsaking all others, you will keep yourself to her and to her 
only, till death shall separate you ? 

Do you, B C, take the gentleman whose right hand you 
now hold, to be your lawful, wedded husband, promising, in 
like manner, in the presence of God and of these witnesses, 
that you will continue with him in health and in sickness ; in 
prosperity and in adversity ; that you will be to him a kind, 
affectionate, and dutiful wife ; and that, forsaking all others, 
you will keep yourself to him and to him only, till death shall 
separate you? 

I do then, in virtue of the authority committed to me as a 
minister of the gospel by the laws of this State, pronounce you 
husband and wife ; henceforth, in interests and destiny, as in 
affection, one. 

FORM FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE. 

Furnished by S. S. Cutting. 

Forasmuch as all marriages which are contrary to God's 
word are unlawful and void, I charge you both before God 
and these witnesses, that if any cause why you may not be 
joined in marriage does exist, you do now confess it. If no 
such cause exists, you will join your right hands. 

To the Man. 

You do solemnly promise to take this woman to be your law- 
ful and wedded wife ; to live together with her after God's 
ordinance in the sacred relations of the marriage state ; you 
will love and cherish her ; you will honor and keep her in 
sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, cleave only 
unto her, so long as you both shall live. 

To the Woman. 

And you promise to receive this man to be your law- 
ful and wedded husband ; to live together with him after 
God's ordinance in the sacred relations of the marriage state ; 
you will love and obey him ; you will cherish him in sickness 
and in health, and forsaking all others, cleave only unto him, 
so long as you both shall live. 



26 MARRIAGE. 

I do then, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the 
usages of Christ's church and the laws of this State, pro- 
nounce you husband and wife. And what God hath joined 
together, let not man part asunder. 

Let us pray. 
FORM OF MARRIAGE. 

Furnished by W. W. E., Jr. 

The institution of marriage is as old as the race. First cele- 
brated amid the innocence of the Garden of Eden, it has ever 
remained a blissful reminder of that blessed state. It was 
guarded on Mount Sinai in tones of thunder, and again in the 
gentler accents of the Sermon on the Mount. It is declared by 
the Apostle to ba honorable in all. There is but one relation 
in life that is more sacred than this — that which exists between 
each of you and your Maker. There is but one relation that 
is more intimate and endearing — that which exists between 
Christ the heavenly bridegroom and the church, his bride. A 
relation so sacred, so intimate, and so endearing, should not 
be entered upon lightly or thoughtlessly, but only after due 
deliberation and in the fear of God ; for though designed to 
be a mutual help and benefit, it too often proves, like the 
waters of Mar ah, bitter to the taste. If you have weighed 
the duties and responsibilities of holy wedlock, and are pre- 
pared, in the presence of God and these witnesses, to choose 
each other as partners for life, you will so declare by uniting 
your right hands. 

Do you promise, etc. 

FORM OF MARRIAGE. 

Furnished by Rev. John Stanford Holme, D. D. 

The parties to be married shall appear, standing before the 
Minister, with their friends and neighbors or other witnesses ; 
the man on the right hand and the woman on the left. The 
Minister shall then begin and say : 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holj 
Ghost. Amen. 



MARRIAGE. 2? 

Dearly beloved : We are assembled in the sight of God and 
of his holy angels, to join together this man and this woman 
in the bonds of matrimony ; which is an honorable estate, 
instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, confirmed 
by the teaching of our blessed Saviour, and compared by St. 
Paul to the mystical union which subsists between Christ and 
his Church. 

Hear what is said by our Lord concerning it : 
Have ye not read, that he which made tbem at the begin- 
ning, made them male and female, and said, For this cause 
shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his 
wife ; and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are 
no more twain, but one flesh. What, therefore, God hath 
joined together, let no man put asunder. 

Hear also ichat St. Paul says, in Ms Epistle to the Ej)hesians, 
as touching the duties of husbands toward their icims, and of 
wives toward their husbands : 

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the 
church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and 
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he 
might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot 
or wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be holy and 
without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their 
own boilies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself, for no 
man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherish- 
eth it, even as the Lord the church. 

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto 
the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as 
Christ is the head of the church ; and he is the Saviour of the 
body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let 
the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

Into this holy estate these two persons are come to be 
joined. Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why 
they may not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, 
or forever after hold his peace. 

And then, addressing the persons to be married, he shall say : 

Also, I charge you each and both, as ye will answer before 
God at the day of judgment, if either of you know any reason 



28 MAKRIAGE. 

why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, 
confess it now. For, be well assured, that all those who are 
brought together, contrary to the word of God, are not joined 
together of God ; neither is their marriage lawful. 

The Minister shall say to the man : 

M — , wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife. 

to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of 
matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and 
keep her, in sickness and in health ; and, forsaking all others, 
keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live ? 

The man shall answer, 1 will. 

Then shall the Minister say unto the woman : 

N , wilt thou have this man to thy wedded hus- 

Toand, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy 
estate of matrimony ? Wilt thou love, honor, and keep him, 
in sickness and in health ; and, forsaking all others, keep 
thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live ? 

The woman shall answer, I will. 

Then shall the Minister say : 
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man ? 

Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner : 

The Minister receiving the woman at her father's or friend's 
Jiands, shall cause the man with his right hand to take the 
woman by her right hand, and to say after Mm asfolloweth : 

I, , take thee, -— , to my wedded wife, to have and 

to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer 
for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 
till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance ; and 
thereto I plight thee my troth. 

Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman with her 
right hand taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say 
after the Minister : 

I, , take thee, , to my wedded husband, to have 

^ and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for 



MARRIAGE. 29 

richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to 
cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordi- 
nance ; and thereto I give thee rny troth. 

Then shall they again loose their hands, and the man shall 
give unto the woman a ring ; and the Minister, taking the ring, 
shall deliver it unto the man to put it upon the fourth finger of 
the woman's left hand ; and the man, holding the ring there , 
and, taught by the Minister, shall say : 

With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I 
thee endow. Amen. 

Then the man, leaving the ring upon the fourth finger of the 
woman's left hand y taking the woman's right, the Minister pla- 
cing his hands upon their joined hands, shall say : 

This marriage vow, which you have now made before God 
and these witnesses, I do now confirm in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And now, in 
accordance with the authority vested in me, as a Minister of 
the Gospel, I pronounce you husband and wife. You are 
no more twain, but one flesh. What God hath joined to- 
gether, let no man put asunder. 

After which the Minister will make a short prayer, closing 
with the Lord's Prayer, in which the whole company will unite. 

Our Father, which arc in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in 
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive' us our 
debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into tempta- 
tion, but deliver us from evil : for thine is the kingdom, and 
the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. 

Then shall the Minister, placing his hands upon the heads 
of the man and the woman, bless them : 

Almighty God, who at the beginning did create our first 
parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and give them in 
marriage, pour down upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify 
and bless you, that you may please him both in body and 
soul, aud live together in holy love and peace unto your lives' 
end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



30 MARRIAGE. 

DEVOTIONAL EXCERPTA. 

And now, Lord God, our Heavenly Father, be pleased to 
sanction and confirm with thy blessing this solemn and im- 
portant transaction. Grant to these persons now united in 
marriage, grace to be faithful always to the holy and blessed 
vows they have taken upon themselves. May they ever be 
faithful and affectionate to each other ; may thy grace renew 
their hearts, may they be one in Christ now, and be prepared, 
when this mortal life, with all its changes, shall be ended, to 
spend their eternity together in thy presence and praises, 
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. — Geo. B. Cheever. 

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we thank thee for a 
relation so tender and so sacred as the marriage tie. We re- 
joice that thou dost esteem it to be honorable in all, and that 
we may confidently ask thine approval when we leave father 
and mother and cleave unto the wife. May we have to-day 
the presence and blessing of thine own Son, whose gracious 
miracle gave cheer to the wedding at which he was pleased 
to be a guest. So may he now glorify all common feelings 
with heavenly affection. May he give to this his servant to 
love his bride with a love akin to that with which he him- 
self loves his own dear church. May he put into the heart of 
his handmaid a spirit akin to the willing subjection of the 
church unto Christ as its head. — /. F. Elder. 

Most blessed Saviour, who didst deign with Immanuel, God 
with us, to grace a marriage feast ; we would implore the 
condescension of thy gracious presence on this occasion. Looli 
down in the plenitude of thy grace and goodness upon this 
bridal pair, who have now, in plighted faith, made an ab- 
solute disposal of themselves, the one to the other in love, 
according to their own appointment. Crown their union with 
thy rich favor. Bless their nuptial bands, and make them 
firm and abiding even unto life's end. Bless them in their 
persons. Bless them in their substance. Bless them in their 
souls. Bless them in health and in sickness, in prosperity 
and adversity, in life and in death. And after death bless 
them with a happy reunion in that heavenly home, where 
there shall be no more parting, neither sickness, sorrow, or 



MARRIAGE. 31 

death, and where all tears shall be wiped away from every 
eye., etc, 

O Thou, all-powerful, all-wise, all-good, who from the be- 
ginning didst foresee that it could not be good for man to be 
alone, and therefore didst prepare a meet help-mate for him, 
and command that the two should no longer be two, bnt one ; 
we humbly pray, we devoutly beseech thee, that, as thou 
hast been pleased to call these thy servants to the holy state 
of nuptial union, thou wouldst also be pleased, in thy grace 
and mercy, to bestow upon them the rich effusions of thy 
favor : that in true and holy love, in fidelity not to be shaken, 
in mutual tenderness and sympathy, they may live ; subduing* 
every evil propensity in constant kindness and correctness, 
edifying each other, blessing each other, blessed by thee, as 
were the patriarchs of old, blessings to the community : that, 
nurtured and admonished in the Lord, their children may rise 
up to call them blessed ; with them to " praise and serve thee 
to their own good, and to the good of those around them, a 
general blessing." 

O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver 
of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life, send thy 
blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, 
whom we bless in thy name ; that as Isaac and Bebekah lived 
faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and 
keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may ever 
remain in perfect love and peace together, and lire according 
to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Bless those who have just entered a state honorable in all. 
May they remember the vows they have left at the altar, 
and in the discharge of their personal and relative duty, may 
they make their word their rule, that mercy and peace may 
be upon them. May the husband love his wife even as him- 
self, and the wife see that she reverence her husband ; and 
both walk together as heirs of the grace of life, that their 
prayers be not hindered. 

Preserve them from the evils which destroy or diminish the 
welfare and comfort of the condition in which thou hast placed 



32 SICK ROOM. 

them ; and may they enjoy all the happiness desirable from 
prudence, temper, accommodation, real godliness, and the 
divine blessing. May they expect to discern infirmities in 
one another, but may they be always most deeply conscious 
of their own. And let them not look for unattainable, by 
looking for unmingled bliss on earth ; but remember that this 
is not our rest, and be prepared for difficulties, trials, changes, 
and final separation. * * * May they assist each other's 
duties, alleviate each other's sorrows, enhance each other's 

joys. 



SICK ROOM. 



AFFLICTIONS PROVIDENTIAL 

1 Sam. ii. 3-9 ; Job v. 6-19 ; Job xiv. 1 ; Ps. xxxix. 1 ; Ps. 
cil 1. 

SYMPATHY IN AFFLICTIONS. 

Job vi. 1-17 ; Prov. xvii. 17 ; Ps. xxxv. 11-28 ; Rom. xii. 
14-21 ; Heb. xiii. 3. 

SUPPORT UNDER AFFLICTIONS. 

Job v. 19 ; xi. 16 ; Ps. xviii. 2 ; xxii. 24 ; xxiii.4, 5;xxvii. 14 ; 
xxx. 5 ; xlii. 11 ; xlvi.l, 2 ; lv. 22 ; lxxi. 20 ; lxxiii. 26 ; cxlv. 14; 
Is. xxv. 4 ; xlix. 13 ; 1. 10 ; liv. 7 ; Jer. xvi. 19 ; Lam. iii. 31-34 ; ' 
Micah vii. 9 ; Nahum i. 7 ; Habakkuk iii. 17-19. 

AFFLICTIONS SANCTIFIED. 

Deut. viii. 2, 3 ; Job xxxvi. 8-10 ; Ps. lxxviii. 34 ; xciv. 12 ; 
cxix. 67-75 ; Prov. iii. 11 ; Zech. xiii. 9 ; Hosea v. 15 ; Rom. 
v. 3 ; Heb. xii. 6-11 ; 1 Peter i. 7. 

AFFLICTIONS OF JOB. 

Job i. 1-22 ; ii. 3-13 ; iii. 24-25 ; vi. 1-4 ; vii. 3-15 ; x. 1-21 , 
xlii. 1-12. 



SICK ROOM. 33 

AFFLICTIONS OF HEZEKIAH. 
2 Chron. xxix. 1-29 ; xxx. 1-26 ; 2 Kings xx. 1-6. 

AFFLICTION OF MANASSEH. 
2 Chron. xxxiii. 12-16 ; 2 Kings xxi. 10-14. 

DEVOTIONAL EXCERPTA FOR THE SICK ROOM. 

Almighty God, merciful and gracious, who in thy justice 
didst send sorrow and tears, sickness and death into the world, 
as a punishment for man's sins, and hast comprehended all 
under sin, and this sad covenant of sufferings. * * thou 
Preserver of man ! forsake not the work of thy own hands. 
Repair all the decays in his outward man, that his mind may 
also recover its former strength, to praise and bless thy good- 
ness to him. It is owing to thy goodness only that his senses 
are preserved entire, and that he hath some respite, after so 
much uneasiness and pain, through the violence of his illness. 
* * Teach him hence to look up to thee continually, as 
the rock of his salvation, whence only he is to expect comfort 
and support ; and give him grace always to make a right use 
of thy favors, whether in adversity or prosperity, in sickness 
or in health. * * Give him unfeigned repentance for all 
the errors of his past life, and steadfast faith in thy Son Jesus 
Christ ; a comfortable assurance of the truth of all his pre- 
cious promises, a lively hope of that immortal bliss in which he 
reigns forevermore, and a strong sense of thy fatherly love to 
him, and care over him, which may make him heartily love 
thee, and entirely confide in thee, and absolutely resign both 
soul and body to thy wise disposal. * * 

Lord, what is our life but a vapor, which appeareth but a 
little time, and then vanish eth away ? Even at the longest, 
how short and transitory ! and when we think ourselves most 
secure, yet we know not what a day may bring forth ; nor 
how soon thou mayest come, before we are aware, to call us 
to our last account. * * How unmindful are we all of our 
departure ! how improvident of our time ! how careless of our 
souls, and negligent in our preparations for eternity ; so that 



34 SICK ROOM. 

thou mightest j lastly cut us off in the midst of our sins, and 
our unpreparedness to appear before thee. So teach us, that 
we may finish our work before we finish our course. * * O 
Almighty God and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the 
issues of life and death, look down from heaven, we humbly 
beseech thee. * * O Father of mercies, and God of all com- 
fort, our only help in time of need, we fly unto thee for suc- 
cor. * * Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits 
of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their 
earthly prisons. * * O Blessed Lord, the Father of mercies 
and the God of all comforts, we beseech thee, look down in 
pity and compassion ; break not the bruised reed, nor quench 
the smoking flax ; shut not up thy tender mercies in displea- 
sure ; but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that the 
bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. * ■■ * God, 
whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be 
numbered, make us, we beseech thee, deeply sensible of the 
shortness and uncertainty of human life ; and let thy Holy 
Spirit lead us through this vale of misery, in holiness and 
righteousness, all the days of our lives ; that when we shall 
have served thee in our generation, we may be gathered unto 
our fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience ; in 
the communion of the church catholic ; in the confidence of a 
certain faith ; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and 
holy hope ; in favor with thee our God, and in perfect charity 
with the world ; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. * * We thank thee that our places are not 
assigned us in another world, according to the incidental cir- 
cumstances of our death ; but according to the manner of 
our life. 

O Father of mercies, to thee we recommend the last hour of 
our life, and the decision of our eternal doom. When our feet, 
benumbed with death, shall tread the verge of Jordan ; when 
our eyes, dim and troubled at the approach of death, shall fix 
their last longing gaze on thee, our only support ; when our 
ears, soon to be forever shut to the discourse of men, shall be 
open to the irrevocable decree, which is to cut us off from the 
living ; when we shall have lost the use of our senses, when 
the world shall have vanished from our sight, when our agom 



SICK KOOM. 35 

izing soul shall feel the sorrows of death ; when our last sigh 
shall summon our souls to burst from the embraces of the 
body, when our souls trembling on our lips, shall bid adieu to 
the world, and leave our bodies lifeless, pale and cold ; be thou 
the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. 

O God the Father, Creator of the world ; O God the Son, Re- 
deemer of the world ; O God the Holy Ghost, sanctifier of thy 
people, have mercy upon us, and deliver us from all offences 
and transgressions, and their just punishment ; from the snares 
and temptations of Satan ; from all impatience and repining 
at thy chastisement ; from all unbelief and distrust of thy 
mercies ; from improper fears of death, and immoderate de- 
sires for life. We beseech thee by thy cross and passion, by 
thy death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascen- 
sion, to bear us miserable sinners. 

Lord, relieve the sorrow of thy servant and support his 
spirit, direct his thoughts and sanctify his sickness, let not the 
sense of his afflictions make him forgetful of past mercies, or 
of thy benevolent purpose in his present chastisement. Visit 
him with heavenly consolation, fill him with comfortable 
thoughts of thy love, and of the tender care of the Saviour 
for bis afflicted people. * * gracious Lord, by whose 
word man lives, and not by any human means alone, give 
efficacy to the means employed for the recovery of thy ser. 
vant. *" * O Almighty God, gracious and merciful and 
long suffering, whose compassions fail not, look down we be- 
seech thee, upon the low and distressed state of thy servant, 
now lying in the extremity of sickness. The harder his ill- 
ness presses upon him, the harder does it call upon thee for 
help. We know thou art able to bring him up from the gates 
of death, and grant him a longer continuance among us, a 
blessing to his family, the church, and the worid. 

O God of our life ! in whose hand our breath is, and by 
whom all men live, and have their days prolonged or short- 
ened, give thy servant patience in his sorrows, comfort in his 
sickness, and restore him to health if it seem good to thee. 
And however thou shalt determine concerning him, give him 
godly repentance, saving faith, steadfast hope, that when called 
hence he may enter the rest remaining for the people of God. 



36 SICK ROOM. 

Take thy staff, pilgrim ! 

Haste thee on thy way ; 
Let the morrow find thee 

Farther than to-day. 

If thou seek the city 
Of the golden street, 

Pause not on thy pathway- 
Rest not, weary feet. 

In the heavenly journey, 
Press with zeal along; 

Resting will but weary — 
Running make thee strong. 



We are told there are waves in the ocean 
That never break on the beach ; 

And there are sobs heard in silence 
Which never pass into speech. 



Look up, my darling; the way seems dark, 
And storm-clouds are thick in the sky ; 

But the glorious sun is shining beyond, 

And will break through the gloom by and by. 



But the sun is sloping westward ; 

Troubles come and cares increase ; 
Looking back on happy childhood, 

Sighing for its hours of peace. 

Now the sun is sinking, sinking — 
Gone ! Its tints fade in the west ; 

And old age lays down its burden, 
Dust to dust — at peace, at rest. 



SICK ROOM. 3? 

There the golden clay is breaking 

In the city of the blest ; 
There the Saviour waits to welcome 

Home his chosen and his blest. 



Heaven is not reached by a single bound; 
But we build the ladder by which we rise 
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, 

And we mount to its summit round by round. 



God draws a cloud over each gleaming morn : 

Would we ask why ? 
It is because the noblest things are born in agony. 

Only upon some cross of pain or woe 

God's sun may lie : 
Each soul, redeemed from self and sin, must know 

It's Calvarv. 



One sweetly solemn thought 
Comes to me o'er and o'er ; 

I'm nearer my home to-day 
Than I ever have been before. 

Nearer my Father's house, 
Where many mansions be ; 

Nearer the great white throne, 
Nearer the crystal sea. 

Nearer the bound of life, 

Where we lay our burdens down; 
Nearing leaving the cross, 

Nearer gaining the crown. 



38 SICK KOOM. 

But the waves of that silent sea 
Koll dark before my sight, 

That brightly the other side 
Break on a shore of light. 

Oh ! if my mortal feet 

Have almost gained the brink ; 
If it be I am nearer home, 

Even to-day, than I think, 

Father, perfect my trust, 
Let my spirit feel in death 

That her feet are firmly set 
On the Eock of a living faith. 



If I should die to-night, 
My friends would look upon my quiet face 
Before they laid it in its resting place, 
And deem that death had left it almost fair. 
And laying snow-white flowers against my hair, 
Would smooth it down with tearful tenderness ; 
And fold my hands with lingering caress, 
Poor hands, so empty and so cold to-night. 

If I should die to-night, 

My friends would call to mind with loving thought 

Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought, 

Some gentle word the frozen lips had said; 

Errands on which the willing feet had sped. 

The memory of my selfishness and pride, 

My hasty words, would all be put aside, 

And so I should be loved and mourned to-night. 



FUNERALS. 39 

If I should die to-night, 

Even hearts estranged would turn once more to me, 

Eecalling other days remorsefully ; 

The eyes that chill me with averted glance 

Would look upon me as of yore, perchance, 

And soften in the old familiar way ; 

For who could war with dumb, unconscious clay? 

So I might rest forgiven of all to-night. 

friends, I pray to-night, 

Keep not your kisses for my dead, cold brow ; 

The way is lonely, let me feel them now. 

Think gently of me ; I am travel worn ; 

My faltering feet are pierced with many a thorn. 

Forgive, hearts estranged, forgive, I plead ; 

When dreamless rest is mine I shall not need 

The tenderness for which I long to-night. 



r r 



FUNERALS. 



AN INFANT. 

What is your life ? It is even a vapor that ap- 
peareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 

All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is 
as the flower of the field. 

Lord, make me to know T mine end, and the mea- 
sure of my days, what it is : that I may know how 
frail I am. Behold thou hast made my days as a 



40 FUSTEKALS. 

hand-breadth, and mine age is as nothing before 
thee : verily every man at his best state, is altogether 
vanity. — Ps. xxxix. 4, 5. 

David therefore besought God for the child, and 
David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon 
the earth. And the Elders of his house arose, and 
went to him to raise him up from the earth ; but he 
would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And 
it came to pass on the seventh day that the child 
died : and the servants of David feared to tell him 
that the child was dead : for they said, behold, while 
the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he 
would not hearken unto our voice; how will he then 
rex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead ? 

But when David saw that his servants whispered, 
David perceived that the child was dead ; therefore 
David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? and 
they said, he is dead. Then David arose from 'the 
earth and washed and anointed himself, and changed 
his apparel and came unto the house of the Lord, and 
worshipped. Then he came to his own house, and 
when he required, they set bread before him, and he 
did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What 
thing is this that thou hast done ? thou didst fast 
and weep for the child while it was alive, but when 
the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 
And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted 
and wept : for I said, Who can tell whether God will 
be gracious to me, that the child may live ? But now 
he is dead, wherefore should I fast ? Can I bring 
him back again ? I shall go to him, but he shall not 
return to me. — 2 Sam. xii. 16-23. 



FUKEEALS. 41 

A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and 
bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, re- 
fused to be comforted for her children, because they 
were not. — Jer. xxxi. 15. 

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; 
blessed be the name of the Lord. — Job i. 21. 



Behold, the bud is gone, the thorns remain ! 
My lamp hath fallen from its niche — ah me ! 
Earth drinks the fragrant flame, and I am left 
Forever and forever in the dark ! 



Grieve uot with hopeless sorrow, 
Jesus has felt your pain ; 

He did thy lamb but borrow, 
He'll give him back again. 



Rest for the little sleeper, 
Joy for the ransomed soul; 

Peace for the lonely weeper, 
Dark though the waters roll. 

Weep for the little sleeper, 
Weep, it will ease the heart ; 

Cannot make the dull pain deeper, 
'Twill help to heal the smart. 

Hath the dear Saviour found him, 
Laid him upon his breast, 

Folded his arms around him, 
Hushed him to endless rest. 



42 FUKERALS. 

She took the cup of life to sip, 
Too bitter 'twas to drain ; 

She put it meekly from her lip, 
And went to sleep again. 



And he asked, Who gathered this 
Flower ? and the gardener answeredj, 
"The Master!" and his fellow 
Servant held his peace. 



My babe ! my tiny babe ! my only babe ! 
My single rosebud in a crown of thorns ! 
My lamp that in the narrow hut of life, 
Whence I looked forth upon a night of storms, 
Burned with the lustre of the moon and stars ! 

My babe ! my babe ! my own and only babe ! 
Where art thou now ? If somewhere in the sky 
An angel holds thee in his radiant arms, 
I challenge him to clasp thy tender form 
With half the fervor of a mother's love. 

Forgive me, Lord ! forgive my reckless grief ! 
Forgive me, that this rebel, selfish heart 
Would almost make me jealous for my child, 
Though thy own lap enthroned him. Lord, thou hast 
So many such ! I have — ah ! had but one ! 

Oh, yet once more, my babe, to hear thy cry ! 
Oh, yet once more, my babe, to see thy smile I 
Oh, yet once more to feel against my breast 
Those cool, soft hands, that warm, wet, eager mouth, 
With the sweet sharpness of its budding pearls ! 



FUNERALS. 43 

The mother bowed down her head ; 
Love's troubled fount was in tears o'errun — 
A murmur — a struggle — and grace had won: 
u Xot mv will," she said, "but thine be done !" 



A year of sweets — a little year, 

That vanished with our darling's breath ; 
So strange ! it doth not yet appear 

What is the blessing hid in death. 

shining brow and golden hair. 
And eyes that looked beyond the blue ; 

Dear face, that grew from fair to fair, 
The same, yet always something new I 

A sweeter dream who ever dreamed 
Than came with his soft lips to ours ? 

Blent with his life, our being seemed 
Drowned in the glowing soul of flowers. 

heart of God, that pities all ! 

love that gives and takes away ! 
Confused and faint, on thee we fall, 

Yet know not how we ought to pray* 



These ashes few, this little dust, 
Our Father's care shall keep, 

Till the last angel rise and break 
The long and peaceful sleep. 



There is no flock, however watched and tended s 

But one dead lamb is there ; 
There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended. 

But has one vacant chair. 



44 FIWEKALS. 

They are gone to that land, 

On whose blissful shore 
There rests no shadow, falls no stain ; 

Where those that meet shall part no more. 
And those long parted shall meet again. 



One child and two green graves are mine, 

This is God's gift to me ; 
A bleeding, fainting, broken heart — 

This is my gift to thee. 



A CHILD. 



My days are swifter than a post : they flee away, 
they see no good. 

They are passed away as the swift ships : as the 
eagle that hasteth to the prey. — Job ix. 25, 26. 

And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, 
that he went out to his father to the reapers. 

And he said unto his father, My head, my head ! 
And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 

And when he had taken him, and brought him to 
his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then 
•died. 

And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the 
man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went 
out. 

And she called unto her husband, and said, Send 
me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of 
the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and 
come again. 

And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to 
day ? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she 
said, It shall be well. 



FUNERALS. 45 

Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, 
Drive, and go forward ; slack not thy riding for me, 
except I bid thee. 

So she went and came unto the man of God to 
mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man 
of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his 
servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite : 

Eun now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto 
her, Is it well with thee ? Is it well with thy hus- 
band ? is it well with the child ? And she an- 
swered, It is well. — 2 Kings iv. 18-26. 

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler 
of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy 
daughter is dead ; why troublest thou the Master any 
further ? 

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, 
he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not 
afraid, only believe. 

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, 
and James, and John the brother of James. 

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the 
synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that 
wept and wailed greatly. 

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, 
Why make ye this ado, and weep ? the damsel is not 
dead, but sleepeth. 

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he 
had put them all out, he taketh the father and the 
mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, 
and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 

And he took the damsel by the hand, and saith 
unto her, Talitha cumi ; which is, being interpreted, 
Damsel, (I say unto thee,) arise. 



46 FUNERALS. 

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked ; 
for she was of the age of twelve years. And they 
were astonished with a great astonishment. 

And he charged them straitly that no man should 
know it ; and commanded that something should be 
given her to eat. — Marie v. 35-43. 

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and 
forbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of God. 

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive 
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not 
enter therein. 

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands 
upon them, and blessed them. — Mark x. 14-16. 

But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a 
child, girded with a linen ephod. 

Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and 
brought it to him from year to year, when she came 
up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor 
berth with the Lord, and also with men. — 1 Sam. ii. 
18, 19, 26. 

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was 
laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax 
dim, that he could not see ; 

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple 
of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel 
was laid down to sleep ; 

That the Lord called Samuel : and he answered, 
Here am I. 

And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I ; for 
thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie 
down again. And he went and lay down. 



FUNERALS. 47 

And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And 
Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; 
for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called 
not, my son ; lie down again. 

Xow Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither 
was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. 

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time, 
and he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; 
for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the 
Lord had called the child. 

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down : 
and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 
Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel 
went and lay down in his place. 

And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at 
other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel an- 
swered, Speak ; for thy servant heareth. — 1 Sam. 
iii. 2-10. 

A bud of beauty nipt by death ! 

no ! but upward borne, 
Where no rude wind or poisoned breath 

Can blast a flower of paradise. 



Like the dew on the mount, 
Like the foam on the river, 

Like the bubble on the fountain, 
Thou art gone and — forever. 



Are hope and love and beauty's bloom 
But blossoms gathered for the tomb, 
And nothing bright but heaven ? 



48 FUNERALS. 

It was not in cruelty, it was not in wrath, the reaper 

came that day ; 
But an angel visited the green earth, and took the 

flower away. 

Though earth may boast one gem the less 3 
May not e'en heaven the richer be ? 



UNDER THE SNOW. 

Beautiful things lie hidden 

Under the snow ; 
Tulips and daffodils sleeping, 
Myrtles with broad leaves are creeping, 
And blue-eyed forget-me-nots peeping 
Under the snow. 

Beautiful things lie hidden 

Under the snow ; 

The crocus and dear little daisies, 

And arbutus, in wonderful mazes, 

Its sweet-scented flow'rets upraises 

Under the snow. 

Beautiful things lie hidden 

Under the snow; 

But they will awake in the morning, 

When spring with warm sunshine is dawning. 

They will peep out from under their awning, 

Under the snow. 

♦ 

Our dear ones in death's cold embrace lie 

Under the. snow; 
The angels their kind watch are keeping 
O'er our beautiful treasure safe sleeping, 
Under the snow. 



FUNERALS. 49 

Yes, this loved form must lie sleeping 
Under the snow; 
But she will awake in the morning, 
The bright resurrection day dawning, 
No more to lie down ''midst our mourning, 
Under the snow. 



YOUTH. 

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years 
draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure 
in them ; 

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the 
stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after 
the rain : 

In the day when the keepers of the house shall 
tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, 
and the grinders cease because they are few, and 
those that look out of the windows be darkened, 

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when 
the sound of the grinding is low. and he shall rise 
up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of 
music shall be brought low ; 

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is 
high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond 
tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a 
burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to 
his long home, and the mourners go about the streets : 

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden 
bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the foun- 
tain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 
3 



50 FUNERALS. 

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : 
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. — - 

Ecclesiastes xii. 1-7. 

And Reuben returned unto the pit ; and, behold, 
Joseph was not in the pit ; and he rent his clothes. 

And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The 
child is not ; and I, whither shall I go ? 

And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of 
the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood ; 

And they sent the coat of many colors, and they 
brought it to their father; and said, This have we 
found : know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. 

And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat'; an 
evil beast hath devoured him ; Joseph is without 
doubt rent in pieces. 

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth 
upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to 
comfort him ; but he refused to be comforted ; and 
he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my 
son mourning. Thus his father wept for him,— 
Gen. xxxvii. 29-35. 

And, behold, Cushi came ; and Cushi said, Tidings, 
my lord the king : for the Lord hath avenged thee 
this day of all them that rose up against thee. 

And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man 
Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies 
of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to 
do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 

And the king was much moved, and went up to 
the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he 
went, thus he said, my son Absalom ! my son, my 



FUXERALS. 51 

son Absalom ! would God I had died for thee, 
Absalom, my son, my son ! — 2 Sam. xviii. 31-33. 

Rejoice, young man, in thy youth ; and let thy 
heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk 
in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine 
eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God 
will bring thee into judgment. 

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put 
away evil from thy flesh : for childhood and youth 
are .vanity. — Ecd. xi. 9. 10. 



Thy youth was lovely, like the flower 
Of fairest bloom, which soonest dies; 

The gardener came at early horn;, 
And took thee to the upper skies. 



She went up to the celestial gardens, 

Where angels watch, and seraphs are the wardens. 



With silence only as their benediction 

God's angels came, 
Where, in the shadow of a great affliction, 

The soul sits dumb ; 
Yet would we say what every heart appro veth, 

Our Father's will. 
Calling to him the dear ones whom he loveth, 

Is mercy still. 



He saw a hand you could not see, 
Which beckoned him away ; 

He heard a voice you could not hear, 
Which would not let him stay. 



62 FUNERALS. 

And he who is himself the giver and the gift, 
The future glory and the present smile, 

With the bright promise of the glad forever 
Will light the shadows of the little while. 



It is little matter at what hour of day 
The righteous fall asleep. Death cannot come 
To him untimely who has learned to die. 
The less of this brief life the more of heaven ; 
The shorter time, the longer immortality. 



ADU LT. 



We are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as 
were all our fathers : our days on the earth are as 
a shadow, and there is none abiding. — Lord, make 
me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, 
what it is : that I may know how frail I am. — For I 
know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the 
house appointed for all living. — Then shall the dust 
return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall re- 
turn unto God who gave it. — 1 Ghron. xxiv. 15 ; 
Ps. xxxix. 4; Job xxx. 23; Uccles. xii. 7. 

I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, 
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow 
not, even as others which have no hope. For if we 
believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so 
them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with 
him. Wherefore comfort one another with these 
words.— 1 Tims. iv. 13, 14, 18. 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present 
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory 



FrXERALS. 53 

which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest ex- 
pectation of the creature waiteth for the manifesta- 
tion of the sons of God. For the creature was made 
subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him 
who hath subjected the same in hope : because the 
creature itself also shall be delivered from the bond- 
age of corruption unto the glorious liberty of the 
children of God. And we ourselves groan within 
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the re- 
demption of our body. — Rom. viii. 18-21, 23. 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tab- 
ernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a 
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed 
upon with our house which is from heaven, if so be 
that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being 
burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but 
clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up 
of life.— 2 Cor. v. 1-4. 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first 
resurrection : on such, the second death hath no 
power, but they shall be Priests of God and of 
Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. — 
Rev. xx. 6. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or fam- 
ine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all 
these things we are more than conquerors, through 
him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither 
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 



54 FUKERALS. 

powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be 
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. — Rom. viii. 35, 37, 39. 

I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, 
Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may 
rest from their labors; and their works do follow 
them. — Rev. xiv. 13. 

Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, 
believe also in me. In my Father's house are many 
mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told you. 
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and pre- 
pare a place for you, I w r ill come again, and receive 
you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be 
also. — John xiv. 1-3. 

Father, I will that they also whom thou hast 
given me, be with me where I am ; that they may 
behold my glory. — John xvii. 24. 



The air is full of farewells to the dying, 

And mournings for the dead; 
The heart of Rachel, for her children dying, 

Will not be comforted. 

Let us be patient. These severe afflictions 

Not from the ground arise ; 
But oftentimes celestial benedictions 

Assume this dark disguise. 

In that great cloister's stillness, 

By guardian angels led ; 
Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution, 

She lives whom we call dead. 



FUXERALS. 55 

Another hand is beckoning us, 

Another call is given ; 
And glows once more with angel steps 

The path which reaches heaven. 



Not for the dead in Christ we weep, 
Their sorrows now are o'er; 

The sea is calm, the tempest past, 
On that eternal shore. 

Their peace is sealed, their rest is sure 

Within that better home; 
Awhile we weep and linger here, 

Then follow to the tomb. 



Beyond those chilling and gloomy skies, 
Beyond death's cloudy portal, 

There is a land where beauty never dies, 
And love becomes immortal. 



No hidden grief, 
No wild and cheerless* vision of despair, 

No vain petition for a swift relief, 
No tearful eyes, no broken hearts are there. 



The storm's black wing- 
Is never spread athwart celestial skies ; 

Its waitings blend not with the voice of spring, 
As some too tender floweret fades and dies. 



56 FUNERALS. 

No night distils 
Its chilling dews upon the tender frame ; 

No moon is needed there ;— the light which fills 
That land of glory from its Maker came. 

No parted friends 
O'er mournful recollections have to weep, 
No bed of death enduring love attends 
To watch the coming of a pulseless sleep. 

No blasted flower 
Or withered bud celestial gardens know ; 

Nor scorching blast or fierce descending shower 
Scatters destruction like a ruthless foe. 



The stream is calmest when it nears the tide. 
And flowers are sweetest at the eventide ; 

And birds most musical at close of day, 
And saints divinest when they pass away. 



Of all the thoughts of God that are 
Borne inward unto souls afar, 

Along the Psalmist's music deep, 
Now tell me if that any is, 
For gift or grace surpassing this — 

"He giveth his beloved sleep" ? 
* * * -x- ■* 

And friends, dear friends, when it shall be 
That this low breath is gone from me, 

And round my bier ye come to weep, 
Let one, most loving of you all, 
Say, "not a tear must o'er her fall- 
He giveth his beloved sleep." 



FUNEEALS. 57 

I walk with bare, hushed feet the ground 

Ye tread with boldness shod ; 
I dare not fix with mete and bound 

The love and power of God. 

And so beside the silent sea, 

I wait the muffled oar ; 
No harm from him can come to me 

On ocean or on shore. 



Dwellers in that land of beauty. 
Once they trod the shores of Time ; 
Wept they then in tribulation, 
Wrestled they with strong temptation, 
Patient through their brief probation, 
Wrought the high commands of duty, 
Earned their destiny sublime. 



Though dead, they speak in reason's ear, 

And in example live ; 
Their faith and hope and mighty deeds 

Still fresh instruction give. 

Serene will be our days and bright, 
And happy will our nature be, 

When love is an unerring light, 
And joy its own security. 



Of every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on such 
green graves, 

Some good is born, some gentler nature comes; 
Through death to life ! and through this vale of tears, 

And through this thistle field of life, ascend 
To the great supper in that world, whose years 

Of bliss unfading, cloudless, know no end. 



58 FUNERALS. 

Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom. 

Lead thou me on ; 
The night is dark, and I am far from home, 

Lead thou me on; 
Keep thou my' feet. I do not ask to see 

The distant scene ; one step enough for me* 



Yet must we part, and, parting, weep ; 

What else hath earth for us in store ? 
These farewell pangs, how sharp and deep ! 

These farewell words, how sad and sore ! 

Yet we shall meet again in peace, 

To sing the song of festal joy ; 
Where none shall bid our gladness cease, 

And none our fellowship destroy. 

There, hand to hand, firm linked at last, 
And heart to heart enfolded all ; 

We'll smile upon the troubled past, 
And wonder why we wept at all. 



There are brighter skies than these I know, 

Lands where no shadows lie, 
Fields where immortal flowers bloom, 

And founts that are never dry. 
There are domes where the stars are never dim, 

Where the moon forever gleams, 
And the music-breath of the radiant hills 

Sweeps o'er the crystal streams. 

Father, the shadows fall 

Along my way ; 
'Tis past the noon of day, 
My " westering sun " tells that the eve is near, 
I know, but feel no fear. 



FUNERALS. 59 

And loved ones have gone home, 

A holy band ; 
I hear them call me from the spirit-land, 

A gentle call. 



And could we choose the time, and choose aright, 
? Tis best to die, our honor at the height. 



Leaves have their time to fall, 

And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath ; 
And stars to set — but all, 

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, Death ! 



Oh, joy that in our embers is something that doth 
live! 

We shall miss a thousand times along life's weary 

track, 
Not a sorrow or a joy but we shall long to call thee 

back ; 
Yearn for thy true and tender heart, long thy bright 

smile to see, 
For many dear and true are left, but none are quite 

like thee. 
Not upon us or ours the solemn angel hath evil 

wrought, 
The funeral anthem is a glad evangel, the good die 

not; 
God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly 

what he has given, 
They live in thought and deed as truly as in his 

heaven. 



60 FIHSTERALS. 

Alone ! to land alone upon the shore, 

On which no wavelets lisp, no billows roar, 

Perhaps no shape of ground, 

Perhaps no sight or sound, 
No form of earth our fancies to arrange, 
But to begin alone that mighty change ! 

Alone ! No, God hath been there long before, 
Eternally hath waited on that shore 

For us who were to come 

To our eternal home ; 
And he hath taught his angels to prepare 
In what way we are to be welcomed there. 

Like one that waits and watches He hath sate 
As if there were none else for whom to wait, 

Waiting for us, for us, 
Who keep him waiting thus, 
And who bring less to satisfy his love 
Than any other of the souls above. 

So not alone we land upon that shore, - 
Twill be as though we had been there before ; 

We shall meet more we know 

Than we can meet below, 
And find- our rest like some returning dove, 
And be at home at once with our eternal Love ! 



Faithful friends ! It lies, I know, 
Pale and white and cold as snow ; 
And ye say " Abdallah's dead ! " 
Weeping at the feet and head, 

I can see your falling tears, 

I can hear your sighs and prayers 



FUKERALS. 61 

Yet I smile, and whisper this — 
"I am not the thing you kiss; 

Cease your tears and let it lie ; 
It was mine, it is not ' 1/ " 
Loving friends ! Be wise, and dry 
Straightway every weeping eye : 

What ye lift upon the bier 
Is not worth a wistful tear ; 
? Tis an empty sea-shell — one 
Out of which the pearl has gone : 

The shell is broken — it lies there ; 
The pearl, the all, the soul, is here; 
'Tis an earthen jar whose lid 
Allah sealed 

Is but a hut which I am quitting, 
Is a garment no more fitting, 
Is a cage, from which at last, 
While the man whom ye call dead, 

In unspoken bliss, instead, 

Lives and loves you 

In enlarging paradise, 
Lives a life that never dies. 



A year of tears to me, 

The end of thy probation's strife, 

The archway to eternity, 

The portal of immortal life. 

To me the pall, the bier, the sod, 
To thee the palm of victory given — 
Enough, my heart ! Thank God ! thank God ! 
That thou hast been a year in heaven. 



62 FUNERALS. 

Dearest sister, thou hast left ufe ; 

We our loss do deeply feel, 
But 'tis God that hath bereft i .&, 

He can all our sorrow^ heal. 



The dead are like the stars by day, 

Unseen by mortal eye, 
And yet triumphant hold their way., 

In glory through the sky. 



Now is the stately column broke, 
Toe beacon light is quenched in smoke, 
Yet in these ears tili hearing dies, 
One set slow bell will seem to toll 
The passing *of the sweetest soul 
That ever looked with mortal eyes. 



His share of flowers he took with him aw T ay ; 
No mo:e will blossom here so fair as they. 

His share of thorns he left — and, if they tear 
My hands instead of his, I do not care. 

His sweet eyes were so clear and lovely, but 
To look into the world's mild light and shut : 

Down in the dust they have their share of sleep ; 
Their share of tears is left for me to weep. 

He had his share of Summer. Bird and dew 
Were here with him — with him they vanished too. 

His share of dying leaves, and rains, and frost? 
I take, with every dreary thing he lost. 



FUXERALS. (J3 

The phantom of the cloud he did not see 
For evermore shall overshadow me. 



I hear it singing, sweetly singing, 

Singing in an undertone, 
Singing, as if God had taught it — 

It is better farther on. 

Night and day it sings the sonnet, 

Sings it while it sits alone : 
Sings so that the heart may hear it — 

It is better farther on. 

Sits upon the grave and sings it; 

Sings it while the heart would groan ; 
Sings it when the shadows darken — 

It is better farther on. 

Farther on — ah ! how much farther? 

Count the milestones one by one. 
No; no counting, only trusting — 

It is better farther on. 



OLD AG E. 



There is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it 
will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof 
will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in 
the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground : 
yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring 
forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth and 
wasteth away ; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and 
where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and 
the flood decayeth and drieth up : so man lieth 



64 FUNERALS. 

down, and nseth not: till the heavens be no more, 
they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their 
sleep. — Job. xiv. 7-12. 

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like 
as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. — Job v. 
26. 

And he charged them, and said unto them, I am 
to be gathered unto my people : bury me with my 
fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the 
Hittite, 

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which 
is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which 
Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hit- 
tite for a possession of a burying-place. 

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife ; 
there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and 
there I buried Leah. 

The purchase of the field and of the cave that is 
therein was from the children of Heth. 

And when Jacob had made an end of command- 
ing his sons, he gathered uf> his feet into the bed, 
and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his 
people. — Gen. xlix. 29-33. 

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should 
die ; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 

I go the way of all the earth : be thou strong 
therefore, aud shew thyself a man. 

So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in 
the city of David.— I Kings ii. 1, 2, 10. 

For thou art my hope, Lord God ; thou art my 
trust from my youth. 



FUNERALS. 65 

Cast me not off in the time of old age ; forsake 
me not when my strength faileth. 

God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and 
hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, God, 
forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength 
unto this generation, and thy power to every one 
that is to come. 

Thy righteousness also, God, is very high, who 
hast done great things : God, who is like unto 
thee ! 

Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore trou- 
bles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up 
again from the depths of the earth. — Psalm lxxi. 5, 
9, 17, 18, 19, 20. 

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yester- 
day when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 

Thou earnest them away as with a flood; they 
are -as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass 
which groweth up. 

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in 
the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 

The days of oar years are threescore years and 
ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore 
years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it 
is soon cut off, and we fly aw T ay. — Psalm xc. 4, 5, 
6, 10. 

And even to your old age I am he ; and even to 
hoar hairs will I carry you : I have made, and I will 
bear ; even I will carry, and will deliver you. — Is, 
xlvi. 4. 



>► 



66 FUXERALS. 

Thus star by star declines 

Till all are passed away, 
As morning high and higher shines 

To pure and perfect day ; 
Nor sink those stars in empty night, 
They hide themselves in heaven's own light 



As sweetly as a child whom neither 

Thought disturbs, nor care encumbers : 

Tired with long play, at close of summer's day, 
Lies down and slumbers. 

He set as sets the morning star which goes 
iSTot down behind the darkened west, or hides 
Obscured among the tempests of the sky, 
But melts away into the light of heaven. 

Oh let us trust, with holy men of old, 

Not all the story here begun is told. 

So the tired spirit, waiting to be freed, 

On life's last leaf, with tranquil eye shall read, 

By the pale glimmer of the torch reversed, 

Not finis, but the end of volume first. 

Life's race well run, 
Life's work well done, 
Life's crown well won. 

Now comes rest. 



UNBELIEVER. 

As by one man sin entered into the world, and 
death by sin: so death passed upon all men, for 
that all have sinned. — Rom. v. 12. 



FUNERALS. 67 

]*so man hath power over the spirit to retain the 
spirit ; neither hath he power in the day of death : 
and there is no discharge in that war, neither shall 
wickedness deliver those that are given to it. — Eccl. 
viii. 8. 

They that trust in their wealth, and boast them- 
selves in the multitude of their riches : none of them 
can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to 
God a ransom for him : that he should still live. 
For wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish 
person perish, and leave their wealth to others. — ■ 
Ps. xlix. 6, 7, 9, 10. 

They are exalted for a little while, but are gone 
and brought low: they are taken out of the way as 
all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 
— Job xxiv. 24. 

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after 
this the judgment. — Heb. ix. 27. 

We must all appear before the judgment seat of 
Christ, that every one may receive the things done 
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether 
it be good or bad. — 2 Cor. v. 10. 

The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the 
graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth ; 
they that have done good, unto the resurrection of 
life ; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrec- 
tion of damnation. — John v. 28, 29. 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy 
might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowl- 
edge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. 
— Eccl. ix. 10. 



b 



68 FUNERALS. 

If the tree fall toward the south, or toward the 
north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it 
shall be. — Eccles. xi. 3. 

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still : and he 
which is filthy, let him be filthy still : and he that 
is righteous, let him be righteous still : and he that 
is holy, let him be holy still. Behold I come quickly, 
and my reward is with me, to give every man accord- 
ing as his work shall be. — JRev. xxii. 11, 12. 

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor 
the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. — Matt. 
xxv. 13. 

And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and 
thy body are consumed, and say, How have I hated 
instruction, and my heart despised reproof ; and have 
not obeyed the voice of my teachers. — Prov. v. 11-13. 

Oh that men were wise, that they understood this, 
that they would consider their latter end ! — Dent. 
xxxii. 29. 



SUDDEN DEATH. 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all 
generations. 

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever 
thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even 
from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Thou turnest man to destruction ; and sayest, Ke- 
turn, ye children of men. 

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as 
yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the 



FUNERALS. 69 

night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they 
are as a sleep ; in the morning they are like grass 
that groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth and 
groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and 
withereth. — Ps. xc. 1-6. 

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man 
as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the 
flower thereof f alleth away. —1 Peter i. 24. 

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we 
will. go into such a city, and continue there a year, 
and buy and sell, and get gain : 

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the mor- 
row 

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall 
live, and do this, or that— James iv. 13-15. 

But this I say, brethren, the time is short : it re- 
maineth, that both they that have wives be as though 
they had none ; 

And they that weep, as though they wept not ; 
and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; 
and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 

And they that use this world, as not abusing it : 
for the fashion of this world passeth away. — 1 Cor. 
vii. 29-31. 

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened 
unto ten virgins, which took their lan^ps, and went 
forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them 
were wise, and five were foolish. They that were 
foolish. took their lamps, and took no oil with them : 
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their 
lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all 



70 FUNERALS. 

slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was 
a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye 
out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and 
trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the 
wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. 
But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be 
not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them 
that sell and buy for yourselves. And while they 
went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that 
were ready w^ent in with him to the marriage: and 
the door was shut. 

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, 
Lord, Lord, open to us. 

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, 
I know you not. 

Watch therefore, for ye know r neither the day nor 
the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. — Matt. 
xxv. 1-13. 

Late, late, so late ! and dark the night and chill ! 
Late, late, so late ! but we can enter still. 
" Too late, too late ! ye cannot enter now." 

No light had we : for that we do repent : 
And, learning this, the Bridegroom will relent. 
"Too late, too late ! ye cannot enter now." 

No light, so late ! and dark and chill the night ! 
Oh, let us in. that w T e may find the light ! 
" Too late, too late ! ye cannot enter now." 

Have we not heard the Bridegroom is so sweet ? 
Oh, let us in, though late, to kiss his feet ! 
" No, no, too late ! ye cannot enter now !" 



FUXERALS. 71 



RESURRECTION. 

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he 
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth : 

And though after my skin worms destroy this 
body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : 

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall 
behold, and not another; though my reins be con- 
sumed within me. — Job xix. 25-27. 

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was 
coming, went and met him : but Mary sat still in 
the house. 

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst 
been here, my brother had not died. 

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt 
ask of God, God will give it thee. 

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise 
again in the resurrection at the last day. 

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the 
life ; he that believeth in me, though he w r ere dead, 
yet shall he live : 

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall 
never die. Belie vest thou this ? 

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord : I believe that 
thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should 
come into the world 

Then they took away the stone from the place 
where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his 
eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast 
heard me. 

And I knew that thou nearest me alwavs: but be- 



72 FUKERALS. 

cause of the people which stand by I said it, that 
they may believe that thou hast sent me. 

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a 
loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand 
and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound 
about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them. Loose 
him, and let him go. — John xi. 20-27 and 41-44. 

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I 
also received, how that Christ died for our sins ac- 
cording to the Scriptures ; 

And that he was buried, and that he rose again 
the third day according to the Scriptures : 

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 
twelve : 

After that, he was seen of above five hundred 
brethren at once ; of whom the greater part remain 
unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the 
apostles. 

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one 
born out of due time 

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the 
dead, how say some among you that there is no 
resurrection of the dead ? 

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then 
is Christ not risen : 

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching 
vain, and your faith is also vain : 

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God ; be- 
cause we have testified of God that he raised up 
Christ : whom he raised not up, if so be that the 
dead rise not. 



FUNERALS. 73 

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised : 

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain ; ye 
are yet in your sins. 

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ 
are perished. 

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are 
of all men most miserable. 

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become 
the first-fruits of them that slept. 

For since by man came death, by man came also 
the resurrection of the dead. 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all 
be made alive. 

But every man in his own order : Christ the 
first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his 
coming. 

Then cometh the end, when he shall have de- 
livered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; 
when he shall have put down all rule, and all au- 
thority and power. 

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies 
under his feet. 

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death 

But some man will say, How are the dead raised 
up ? and with what body do they come ? 

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quick- 
ened, except it die : 

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that 
body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of 
wheat, or of some other grain : 

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, 
and to every seed his own body. 

All flesh is not the same flesh : but there is one 



74 FUXERALS. 

kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another 
of fishes, and another of birds. 

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies ter- 
restrial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and 
the glory of the terrestrial is another. 

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory 
of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one 
star differeth from another star in glory. 

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is 
sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: 

It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory : it is 
sown in weakness, it is raised in power : 

It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual 
body. There is a natural body, and there is a 
spiritual body. 

And so it is written : The first man Adam was 
made a living soul; the last Adam was made a 
quickening spirit. 

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but 
that which is natural ; and afterward that which is 
spiritual. 

The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second 
man is the Lord from heaven. 

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: 
and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are 
heavenly. 

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we 
shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can- 
not inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth cor- 
ruption inherit incorruption. 

Behold, I show you a mystery : We shall not all 
sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in 



FUKERALS. 75 

the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For this 
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mor- 
tal must put on immortality. So when this cor- 
ruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this 
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be 
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is 
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy 
sting ? grave, where is thy victory ? The sting 
of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 
But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Cor. xv. 3-8, and 
12-26, and 35-57. 

We know that if our earthly house of this taber- 
nacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a 
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, 
whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent 
from the Lord. We are confident, I say, and willing 
rather to be absent from the body, and to be present 
with the Lord. — 2 Cor. v. 1, 6, 8. 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. I 
am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart^ 
and to be with Christ, which is far better. — Phil. i. 
21, 23. 

There the wicked cease from troubling, and there 
the weary are at rest. — Job iii. 17. 

And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, 
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. — 
Rev. xxi. 4. 

And there shall be no night there; and they need 
no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God 
giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and 
ever. — Rev. xxii. 5. 



76 FUNERALS. 



STUDIES FOR FUNERALS. 

Gen. v. 5, it is said/' all the days that Adam lived were 930 
years; and he died." After a similar enumeration of their 
years it is added in the same stereotyped and solemn phrase in 
the 8th verse of Seth, " and he died," in the 11th verse of 
Enos "and he died," in the 14th verse of Cainan, "and he 
died," in the 17th verse of Mahalaleel, " and he died," in the 
20th verse of Jared, "and he died," in the 27th verse of 
Methuselah, "and he died," in the 31st verse of Lamech, " and 
he died." How brief and monotonous these obituaries of the 
patriarchs of the first generations ! The same unvarying 
record might suffice for the obituary of patriarchs, rulers 
families, and races of later ages. "He died," " They died," 
is the solemn refrain of a song sung along the ages and 
around the earth, celebrating this universal and irresistible 
mortality. All who are born die. None survive. Cities of 
the dead are more populous than those of the living. Those 
buried in the earth outnumber a hundred times those inhabit- 
ing its surface ! Soon it will be said of the last of this 
mighty generation, " he died." 



* ( ' One generation passeth away, and another generation 
cometh." — Eccl. i. 4. The race is an endless procession. Its 
full ranks are generations following each other in unbroken 
succession. As an army after battle, siege, or wearying march 
seeks restful encampment : 

So each generation at the close of the battle, campaign or 
marcKrn life bivouacs in the grave. 

" One generation passeth away, and another generation 
Cometh." 



"We spend our years as a tale that is told." — Ps. xc. 9. 
The longest life may be abridged to the compass of a story 
one can tell to his companions in a half hour. The patriarch 
is humiliated to find so few events and experiences of his 
three-score and ten years, worth narrating or even remember- 
ing. From the eminence of old age one surveys the periods 
traversed in reaching it ; as the mountain traveler looks back 
from a commanding summit over the peaks he has climbed 



FUXERALS. 77 

and the canons he has passed. He surveys at a single glance 
scenes it cost him weeks of toil and peril to traverse ! 

" All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the 
flower of the field. — Is. xl. 6. 

Grass more useful, and covering wider territory, is a fit 
symbol of the average condition of the race. The flower, on 
the other hand, appreciated from its beauty and fragrance, 
and specially as adorning terrace, garden and park, is an em- 
blem of the coveted distinctions of life — royalty, rank, fortune. 
The annual decay of grass and flower over continents impres- 
sively illustrates the disappearing of successive generations, 
the evanescence of human glory. The greatest preacher, 
standing in the presence of the remains of the greatest king 
of his age and the court and representatives of France, over- 
whelmed by a sense of the national bereavement, pointing to 
the bier of Louis XIV, exclaimed in tones of tender solemnity 
and unrivaled eloquence, " Only God is great ! " By the de- 
cay of the splendors of the most august court and proudest 
empire of Europe, a giddy nation was summoned to a mo- 
mentary thoughtfulness. Only the greatness of God and the 
glory of his kingdom remained to challenge the admiration 
and homage and inspire the hope of man. Over buried 
generations, wrecks of empire, and fading glories of earth 
the church is ever proclaiming, " Only God is great ! " " He 
only hath immortality." u Only His kingdom and glory 
abide forever." 

"The pomp of heraldry, the pride of power, 

All that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 
Await like the inevitable hoar, — 

The paths of glory lead but to the grave." 



er As a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then 
vanisheth away." — James iv. 14. As moving mists rise from 
garden, orchard, and meadow, and disappear in cloudless sky ; 
so individuals, families, generations, races, after lingering a 
little while disappear, leaving little more trace of their habita- 
tion on the surface of the earth than vapors or shadows. 



' Fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." — Job xiv. 2 



78 FUNERALS. 

As a shadow flits over lawn, garden or field ; along forest, 
hillside or mountain ; now here, now there, now gone— leav- 
ing no trace behind — so human life, however active, vari- 
ously shaped, or shaded, in its greatest permanence is evan- 
escent, and leaves few personal memorials of which man may 
boast. 

" My days are swifter than a post." — Job ix. 25. 

Before telegraphs, railroads, or public mails, royal decrees 
or despatches and important news were sent to remote cities 
and provinces by special messengers on fleet horses. The 
arrival and departure of these postmen flying through the 
country on relays of animals excited and impressed the whole 
population, and became an impressive figure of the hurried 
and rapid course of life. Its pursuit is so eager and breathless 
as scarcely to allow time for deliberation, prayer, peace or 
hope. 

" They are passed away as the swift ships." — Job ix. 26. 

Life is a voyage of discovery, conquest, or commerce. 
Fleets freighted with life and treasure, have traversed all 
seas, coasted along alfc shores, founding colonies and estab- 
lishing commerce. But what traces of Phenician, Grecian, 
Roman, Spanish, Portuguese, or Dutch Empire of the Medi- 
terranean or oriental seas remain ! The glory of nations has 
faded out as their sails have disappeared from roads and ports 
of the seas. As the swift ship quickly disappears on the 
horizon, so every form of human power and glory passes 
away ! 

"As the eagle hasteth to the prey." — Job ix. 26. 

In the quickness, courage and rashness of his pursuit, man 
often seems like the daring, adventurous eagle, swooping 
down from its mountain eyrie upon its prey. In an age of 
freedom, colonization and commerce, he seems more adventur- 
ous in explorations of nature and pursuit of gold and gain 
than the royal bird now soaring to the sun and now swooping 
down upon the earth ; now surveying from its eyrie the 
storm darkening the whole heavens below it, and anon with 
intrepid wings battling against it. 



FUXERALS. 79 

But often his adventurous pursuit is bootless as the eagle's 
swoop : while his whole life, in the energy, daring, and 
quick but uncertain issue of its pursuit, seems " as the eagle 
hastening to its prey/' 

•' My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle." — Job vii. 6. 

Every man is weaving from threads of influence, spun 
from his principles, purposes and plans, a variegated fabric of 
character and destiny. Moreover, every life is a thread shot 
by a shuttle in a Divine hand through the warp of family, 
social and civil histories. If this thread is feeble it weakens ; 
if discolored, it affects the beauty and pattern of the social 
fabric. 

But whether for strength or weakness, beauty or blemish, 
this thread of individual life is soon lost in the universal 
texture. Each second another life is shot as by a weaver's 
shuttle through the fabric of human society. 

" Mine age is departed and is removed from me as a shep- 
herd's tent.'' — Is. xxxviii. 12. 

The shepherd's tent pitched amid fresh pastures and near 
running brooks is a symbol of the activity, happiness and 
hope, of industrial life. The lowing of herds, bleating of 
flocks, and the song of shepherds, celebrate the continual 
cheerfulness and promise of a prosperous life. The paths 
converging from every point of compass to the fold and tent, 
beaten hard by myriad hoofs of flocks and herds, going forth 
in the morning and returning in the evening, represent the 
established and hopeful order of human pursuits. As the 
season advances pastures fail, brooks run dry, the shepherd's 
tent follows the pursuit of new pastures and perennial foun- 
tains. The old paths are all deserted. Xo traces of fold or 
tent remain. Xo bleating of flocks, lowing of herd, or pipe 
or song of shepherd is heard. The silence is oppressive. 
Desolation broods over the deserted scene ! 

So the wealth, luxuries, honors, appointments and pleas- 
ures of life are sooner or later removed from each individual 
of earth, and he is left alone in the poverty, silence, darkness,, 
and desolation of the grave. 



80 FUNERALS. 

f 'We are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all 
our fathers." — 1 Chron. xxix. 15. 

"Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to 
come." — Heb. xiii. 14. 

Calvin, when about to die, represented himself as going out 
of an inn, not out of a home. 

Life is a pilgrimage. The pilgrim does not seek in the 
land of his transit or sojourn, homestead, citizenship and office, 
honor of professions, arts, culture, large possessions, nor 
primarily fortunate or happy condition. In musings by day 
and dreams by night his heart ever turns to native land, as 
the needle to the pole. No pleasures, nor trials, can divert 
him from its pursuit. " They that say such things declare 
plainly that they seek a country." — Heb. xi. 14. 

" The memory of the just is blessed." — Prov. x. 7. 

u A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches."-- 
Prov. xxii. 1. 

One's good name is the report of a lifetime — a symbol of a 
noble character — a record of worthy deeds — an homage to ex- 
alted virtues. 

It is a distinction more resplendent than royal descent, 
titled nobility, military conquest, discoveries of science, or 
achievements of art can impart. Its record is on high and 
adorns the immortal roll of faith. 

"Wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?"— Ps. 
lxxxix. 47. 

1. Individual life seems short and vain, compared with the 
life of a nation, a race, of the earth, or with the eternity of 
God. 

2. It seems frail and vain as compared with the durability 
of its own works. The house one builds may shelter others 
after he has gone to a humbler abode in the earth. The watch 
he has made may keep time after his heart has ceased to 
beat. The tree he has planted may cast its shadow over his 
own grave. 

3. It seems vain in its mistakes and failures, its antagonisms 
and mysteries, its fatigue and sickness, its sufferings and 
sorrows, the helplessness of childhood, and feebleness of age, 
reducing free and effective life to a minimum. 



FUNERALS. 81 

4. Immortality may change all these estimates of life, 
solve its mysteries, and transfigure all its periods, experiences 
and destinies with glory ! 

" Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." — Gal. 
vi. 7. 

Life is sowing and reaping. 

Rewards and punishments follow the virtues and vices of 
life, as uniformly and inevitably as harvests follow the kind 
of seeding. 

" He who sows to the iiesh, of the flesh reaps corruption ; 
but he who sows to the spirit, of the spirit reaps life everlast- 
ing." However careful or careless and casual the seeding of 
thought, feeling, sentiment, the harvest shall disclose the 
character and shape the destiny of life. 

"But now he is cLead, wherefore should I fast?" — 2 Sam. 
xii. 23. 

1. Unbelievers like David's servants, mourn after and not 
before bereavement, and will not be reconciled. 

2. Believers like David fast and pray for Divine inter- 
position and relief before a calamity ; but become reconciled 
after its stroke has fallen. 

3. Persistent grief becomes rebellion. "I was dumb with 
silence because thou didst it." 

4. The most prolonged and unmitigated sorrow avails 
nothing. It cannot bring back to us the loved and lost ! 

" And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls 
playing in the streets." — Zeck. viii. 5. 

The kingdom of God is the special promise of childhood. 

" Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them 
not." 

" Their angels do always behold the face of my Father." 

Their salvation seems more assured than that of adults sur- 
rounded by the temptations and stained by the sins of a long- 
life. 

In early death they safely reach the haven, while others 
encounter adverse currents or are driven by storms to un< 
known shores ! 



82 FUNERALS. 

" I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my 
days/' — Ps. cii. 24. 

1. Man dies in the midst of the allotted period of his life — 
the three-score and ten years. Infancy, childhood and youth 
die as well as manhood and old age. The journey of life is 
not an approach to the distant and dark abyss of the grave, 
but a path along its crumbling verge over which the wayfarer 
is liable at any moment to fall. 

2. Man dies in the midst of unfinished plans. The broken 
col Limn is a symbol of the interruption of the most ambitious 
professional, commercial or political pursuits. He dies while 
his house is building, his friends increasing, and his fortunes 
brightening. 

3. He dies often in the midst of unsettled convictions, and 
unsatisfactory experiences of religion — without faith, without 
penitence, and without prayer. 



"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." — Rev. xiv. 13. 

1. The judgment of the world is reversed by this benedic- 
tion. Neither experience, testimony, nor reason can pro- 
nounce blessing upon the dead. They only pronounce fortu- 
nate classes of the living happy. But a voice from heaven, a 
Divine revelation, declares not that the living but that the 
dead may be perfectly blessed. 

2. The righteous dead are blessed in resting from their 
labors and being gr owned with a reward of their works of 
faith. The laborer ends the day of toil, and the wayfarer 
his journey in the bosom and peace of home. 

3. The works and virtues of piety follow believers as an 
escort of angels to assure them an abundant entrance into 
the kingdom of heaven. 

" Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints/ 
Not in ours, but in the Lord's sight, is death ever pre- 
cious. Not every death, but only the death of his saints, is 
thus welcome to the Lord. It is precious, because the last 
and completest exhibition of faith in him. All other trials 
of faith last but for a moment and may be relieved by others, 
but death must be faced alone and the strange darkness. 
When one of his children takes his step boldly, cheerfully 
it is grateful to the watchful eyes of the heavenly Father. 



FUKEKALS. 83 

The death of one of his saints is precious in the sight of 
the Lord, because it is the end of all trouble. Trouble is not 
an accident, a needless evil in the Christian's path. By ex- 
posure he is hardened for service, by tribulation he is sifted 
from chaff, by fire he is purged from dross, and only thus can 
a believer be fitted for the holy life above. Nevertheless, 
judgment is God's strange work, neither does he afflict 
willingly, so that when the severe process is accomplished 
and the buffeted saint is released, the Lord is relieved and 
rejoiced. 

Moreover the death of a saint is precious in the sight of 
the Lord, because now he can take him home. The Lord's 
heart is pent up with love he cannot make known to us while 
we are in the flesh. His chief bounties are held in reserve. 
The things unspeakable, the riches unsearchable are there, 
and when the child returns with honor from the long and 
painful school-drill, the father's heart pours forth its re- 
strained affection without limit. 

BURIAL SERVICE. 

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to 
take out of this clayey tenement the soul that inhab- 
ited it, we do therefore commit its decaying remains to 
their kindred elements, earth to earth, dust to dust, 
in the certain belief of a resurrection from the dead 
and everlasting life through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL SERVICE. 

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in 
his wise providence, to take out of this world the 
soul of our deceased brother, we therefore commit 
his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to 
ashes, dust to dust ; looking for the general resur- 
rection in the last day, and the life of the w r orld to 
come, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; at wdiose 
second coming in glorious majesty to judge the 



84 FUNERALS. 

worlds the earth and the sea shall give up their 
dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep 
in Him shall be changed and made like unto His 
t)wn glorious body ; according to the mighty working 
whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. 

EXCERPTA FOR FUNERALS. 

Lord Jesus Christ, who art the resurrection and 
the life ; in whom whosoever belie veth shall live, 
though he die ; and whosoever liveth and believe th 
in thee shall not,„die eternally. ... thou Lord of 
all, teach us while we mourn over our distressing 
bereavement, to bow with submission to that hand 
which has deprived us of this earthly comfort. 
Silence the murmurings of our rebellious hearts. 
Enable us to say with thy servant of old, " The Lord 
gave and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be 
the name of the Lord." 

thou great Disposer of all events, with whom 
are the issues of life and death, may we hear that 
warning voice which solemnly speaks to us this day, 
"Be ye also ready." Make us mindful of our 
own mortality. Prepare us for whatever thou hast 
prepared for us; and as our bodies are frail, and our 
days few and uncertain, may we live as if there were 
but a step between us and death. * * 

We thank thee, that amid the manifold sorrows 
of this mortal state, thou art a refuge to the af- 
flicted, hearing their prayer, and pitying their dis- 
tress. * * Assist us, Lord, in what remains of 
the mournful duties to which w r e are now called. * * 
May the comforts of thy truth, and power of thy 
grace, be with us while with decent solemnity we 



FFXEKALS. 85 

commit these earthly remains to the ground; looking 
with the eye of faith to the resurrection of the dead 
and the life of the world to come. 

When the hoarse wave of Jordan breaks upon our 
startled ear; when our benumbed feet stand upon its 
chilly shore ; when our eyes, growing dim, gaze upon 
the dark and forbidding stream, descrying no shore 
beyond ; when we sink in the troubled waters, and 
their waves and their billows roll over us; Cod, 
may thy promise support us there, causing us to 
fear no evil; and having passed the swellings of 
Jordan, may we shout deliverance on Canaan's 
shores, offering glad homage and unending praise to 
him who has guided our trembling souls safe through 
the perils of life and the terrors of death. * * May 
we remember, in the last Judgment, the important 
enquiry will be, how have we lived, and not how 
have we died; and it will be better to have lived in 
faith and obedience, than to have died in peace and 
triumph. * * 

BENEDICTION. 

Xow the God of peace, that brought again from 
the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the 
sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant 
make you perfect in every good work to do his will, 
working in you that which is well pleasing in his 
sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for- 
ever and ever. Amen. 



86 BAPTISM. 



BAPTISM. 



SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS. # 

Then cometli Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to 
be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying I have 
need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ? And 
Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now : for thus 
it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered 
him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight- 
way out of the water : and, lo, the heavens were opened unto 
him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, 
and lighting upon him : And lo a voice from heaven, say- 
ing, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. — 
Matt. iii. 13-17. 

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest 
thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that 
prophet? — John i. 25. 

And I knew him not : but that he should be made mani- 
fest to Israel, therefore am I come. baptizing with water. — 
John i. 81. 

The baptism of John, whence was it ? from heaven, or of 
men 1—Matt. xxi. 25. 

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the 
land of Juclea ; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 
And John also was baptizing in y£non, near to Salim, be- 
cause there was much water there : and they came, and were 
baptized. — John iii. 22-23. 

Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples. — 
John iv. 2. 



BAPTISM. 8< 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is 
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : Teaching them to 
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, 
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 
Amen.— Matt xxviii. 18-20. 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and 
is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be 
damned. — Mark xvi. 15-16. 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every 
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of 
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. — Acts 
ii. 38. 

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized : 
and the same day there were added unto them about three 
thousand souls. — Acts ii. 41. 

And he commanded the chariot to stand still : and they 
went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch ; 
and he baptized him. — Acts viii. 38. 

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed 
their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat 
before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his 
house. — Acts xvi. 33-34. 

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on 
the Lord with all his house ; and many of the Corinthians 
hearing believed, and were baptized. — Acts xviii. 8. 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into 
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ? Therefore we are 
buried with him by baptism into death : that like as Christ 
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even 
so we also should walk in newness of life. — Romans vi. 3-5. 



88 BAPTISM. 

And now why tarriest thou ? arise, and be baptized, and 
wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. — 
Acts xxii. 16. 

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the 
sea. — 1 Corinthians x. 2. 

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ 
have put on Christ. — Qalatians iii. 27. 

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.— Eph. for. 5. 

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen 
with him through the faith of the operation of God, who 
hath raised him from the dead. — Golossians ii. 12. 

The like figure where unto even baptism. doth also now 
save us (not the putting away of the tilth of the flesh, but 
the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resur- 
rection of Jesus Christ, — 1 Peter iii. 21. 



FORMULAS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF 
BAPTISM. 

By the authority of the Great Head of the Church, and 
upon profession of your faith in him, I baptize thee (using 
tlxe given name of the candidate, or some other designation J 
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Spirit, Amen. 

In obedience to the Great Commission, and upon profession 
of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize thee, my 
brother (or sister J in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Upon profession of repentance toward God and of faith in 
our Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize thee, my brother (or sister J 
into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Spirit. Amen. 



lord's supper. 89 



LORD'S SUPPER. 



SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS, ENCOURAGING ITS 
OBSERVANCE. 

Isaiah xlv, 22, 23 ; Iv. 1-3, 6-9 ; Matt. xi. 28-30 ; xx\> 
19-22, 34-40 ; x. 37-39 ; John iii. 18, 19, 35, 36 ; 1 Peter ii. 
4-7 ; Rev. iii. 12, 

INSTITUTION OF THE SUPPER. 

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered 
unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he 
was betrayed, took bread : 

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, 
eat ; this is my body, which is broken for you ; this do in re- 
membrance of me. 

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had 
sapped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood : 
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do 
shew the Lord's death till he come. 

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this 
cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and 
blood of the Lord. 

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that 
bread, and drink of that cup. 

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and 
drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's 
body. 

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and 
many sleep. 

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 



90 lokd's supper. 

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, 
that we should not be condemned with the world. 

Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, 
tarry one for another. 

And if any man hunger, let him eat at home ; that ye come 
not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in 
order when I come.— 1 Cor. xi. 23-34. 

DEVOTIONAL EXCERPTA FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of 
all things, Judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail our 
manifold sins and wickedness which we from time to time 
most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, 
against thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath 
and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are 
heartily sorry for these our misdoings ; the remembrance of 
them is grievous to us, the burden of them is intolerable. 
Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful 
Father; for thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us 
all that is past ; and grant we may ever hereafter serve and 
please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy 
name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. * "* Almighty God 
our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hath promised 
forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance 
and true faith turn unto thee; have mercy upon us, pardon 
and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in 
all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. * * We do not presume to come to this 
thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, 
but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy 
so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But 
thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have 
mercy ; grant us therefore, gracious Lord, to eat and drink as 
discerning the Lord's death, that our souls may be washed 
through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore 
dwell in him, and he in us. * "* All glory be to thee, Al- 
mighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy 
tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer 
death upon the cross for our redemption ; who made there, by 



lord's supper. 91 

his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect and 
sufficient sacrifice, for the sins of the whole world ; and did 
institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue a 
perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice 
until his coming* again. * * 

O Lord, enable us to hold in remembrance his blessed pas- 
sion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious 
ascension ; rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the 
innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same. * * 

Merciful Jesus, Saviour of the world, if we offer before thee 
our body and soul, our life and liberty, and all we possess, 
how mean the offering compared to the ineffable grace be- 
stowed upon us. * - Will Jesus come up to this feast with 
us who have so often and so ungratefully sinned against 
him ? shall we, stricken by a sense of our unworthiness, fly 
from his presence like despairing Cain, or hide ourselves 
from his call, and his reproving eye, like guilty Adam? As 
thy gooduess surpasses our wickedness, and thy mercy ex- 
ceeds our misery, we come to thee defiled, infirm and naked, 
to be cleansed, strengthened and clothed with thy righteous- 
ness. * * Worms of the dust, subject to innumerable 
miseries, distracted with passions, fond of vanity, defiled with 
sin, encompassed with darkness, busy about folly, and care- 
less of Eternity, O Saviour or the world, receive us into the 
compassionate arms of thy mercy. * * May the efficacy of 
thy sacrifice, celebrated by the broken bread and the wine, 
discharge us from the guilt of our sins, strengthen our faith, 
encourage us in the practice of good works, give us victory 
over sins, and perfect us in charity, patience, humility, obedi- 
ence, and all other virtues. * * O Saviour by whom 
spiritual life is sustained, and without whom it languishes to 
extinction, may we rest in the embraces of thy covenant love 
as in our dwelling-place, and remain forever united to thee 
as the branch to the vine. 

Be present to illuminate, comfort and refresh thy people, 
while they meditate upon a bleeding Saviour with a broken 
and a contrite heart. * * Enable us to contemplate the 
matchless event of the Saviour's crucifixion, with the views 
and affections, which its importance demands, and looking to 
his sacrifice find relief for our burdened consciences May 



92 lord's supper. 

we herein trace the wonderful love of God, in sending his 
Son to be a propitiation for our sins ; here study the height, 
length, depth and breadth, and know the love of Christ, 
which passeth knowledge ; here contemplate him wounded 
for our transgressions, etc., here learn what manner of love 
the Father hath bestowed upon us, and here be impressed 
with a sense of the malignity of sin. * * 

Encouraged by these memorials, may we come as infirm 
and straying sheep to their shepherd ; as the sick to their 
physician, and as condemned criminals to a merciful advocate, 
and powerful intercessor. * * Having stooped so low as to 
take upon thyself the infirmity of our nature, wilt thou not 
exalt us to the elevation of thy merits and glory? * * 
From the ample provisions of the Gospel, of which this is a 
lively memorial, may we derive refreshment, support, strength, 
armor and defence. * * 

May the love kindled before the altar of Christ's sacrifice, 
inflame our hearts with growing fervor till nature and cor- 
ruption, weakened and consumed, we appear before thee, 
purified as gold. * * As the hart pants after the water- 
brooks, so may we thirst for the water of life, ever flowing 
from the cleft rock Jesus Christ, to slake the thirst and re- 
fresh the strength of pilgrims, journeying through a wilder- 
ness world, to a land of eternal rest ! 

Jesus the bread of life that came down from Heaven, 
heavenly manna, whose virtue nourishes thine elect in the 
desert of this world. * * Lamb of God, sacrificed for us 
who hast left us in the ordinance of the supper a perpetual 
memorial of thy passion, help us worthily to receive these 
emblems, that the doctrines they commemorate may be our 
spiritual food. * * Thou who wast born in a stable and 
cradled in a manger, to illustrate a lowly origin, baptized to 
exemplify obedience, tempted to prove thine incorruptible 
virtue, and who after a life of unwearying toil, quenchless 
zeal and matchless benevolence and meekness, hast offered 
upon the cross a sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

O Thou who didst teach philanthropy by going about to do 
good ; obedience by fulfilling the law ; patience by uncom- 
plaining suffering ; meekness by enduring reproaches ; devo- 
tion by praying all night in the mountain ; humility by 



lord's supper. 93 

washing thy disciples' feet. * * O Thou who wast bowed 
in sorrow, kneeling on the cold ground in the garden, wast 
betrayed with a kiss, led bound in cords as a malefactor, wast 
smitten upon the cheek, wast spit upon, arrayed in mock 
robes, crowned with thorns, and in derision hailed king of 
the Jews, and by wicked men led away to be crucified. * * 
O Thou who wast nailed to the accursed tree, wast pierced by 
the nails and the spear, and in thine expiring agony didst cry 
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? * * Lamb 
of God, who wast sinless and meek among the erring and the 
proud; who opened not thy mouth to censure when thou 
wast accused, and who wast offered once for all a sacrifice for 
the sins of the world. * * Jesus, may we be enlightened 
by thine incomparable teaching, guided by thy perfect ex- 
ample, and redeemed by thy precious blood. * * O Jesus, 
it was after thy baptism and temptation, thy miracles and 
sermons, after thy sorrows in the garden and agonies on the 
cross, after the driving of the nails and the piercing of the 
spear, and the flowing of thy precious blood, that thou didst 
say, it is finished. 

While here we contemplate the eminency of thy suffering 
and thy sorrow, may we be willing to suffer on behalf of thy 
cause, as well as believe on thee, knowing that if we suffer 
we shall also reign with thee. * * Let this cup of blessing 
which we bless be to us the communion of the blood of 
Christ ; let the bread which we break be the communion of 
the body of Christ. * * that we may now bear about 
with us continually the dying of the Lord Jesus, so as that 
the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body! 



94 ECCLESIASTICAL FOKMULAS, 



ECCLESIASTICAL FORMULAS 



LICENSE TO PREACH. 

The Church 

by unanimous resolution authorized you to conduct religious 
meetings and perform all offices of the Christian Ministry, 
except the administration of ordinances and the oversight of 
a Bishop. You are hereby commended to the confidence and 
sympathy of sister churches, in your labors to win souls, 
and build up the kingdom of Christ. 

By order and in behalf of the Church. 

Clerk. 
Pastor. 



CMURCH LETTERS. 

The Church in 

To the 
Dear Brethren : 

This is to certify, that is a member in 

regular standing with us, and with our cordial consent is at 
liberty to transfer membership to you. 

If is received into your fellowship, and the 

inclosed letter of acknowledgment is returned to us within 

three months, we shall consider as no longer 

under our watch-care, and discipline. 

In behalf of the Church. 

Ch. Clerk. 



ECCLESIASTICAL FORMULAS. 95 

The 
To the Church in 

Dear Brethren : 

Your letter commending to our fellowship 
was duly received ; and in acknowledgment of these testimo- 
nials, and in accordance with own request, was 
received into membership with us, the day of 18 
By order of the Church. 



Ch. Clerk. 



18 



TO ANY SISTER CHURCH. 

Dear Brethren : 

The bearer is a member with us in gooa 

standing. During his absence from us we cordially commend 
him to your fellowship, and pray that his association with 
you may be a mutual blessing, and that he may be safely re- 
turned to us laden with the experience of the Divine Goodness. 

Clerk. 

Pastor. 



ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL. 

The Church in 
To the 
Dear Brethren : 

You are requested to send your Pastor, and delegates, to 
sit in council with us, on day of at o'clock ; 

to take into consideration the expediency of ordaining to the 
work of the Gospel ministry 
In behalf of the Church. 

Clerk. 



96 ECCLESIASTICAL FORMULAS. 

MINUTES OF ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILS. 

An Ecclesiastical Ctouncil convened at on day 

of pursuant to an invitation from 

The Council was organized by the choice of as 

Moderator, and Clerk. 

Prayer by 

The Moderator then called for the reading of the resolution 
of the Church, authorizing the call of the Council (or the let- 
ter stating the object for which the Council was convened). 

The credentials of delegates were then called for, when it 
appeared that the following churches were represented by the 
following brethren : 

CHURCHES DELEGATES. 

Whereupon 

Clerk. 

Moderator. 



MINUTES OF CHURCH MEETINGS. 

18 
The Church held its stated meeting for business 
evening, at o'clock. 

in the chair. 
Prayer by Bro. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 

related before the Church his 
Christian experience, whereupon it was resolved, that he be 
received as a member of the Church, after Baptism. 

A letter of dismission and recommendation of 
from Church was read : whereupon, agreeably 

with his own request, he was by a vote received into the 
fellowship of this Church. 

The unfinished business of the last meeting was then taken 
up 
New business. 

Clerk. 



RULES OF ORDER. 97 

MINUTES OF A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OR A 
COMMITTEE. 

Trustees (or Committee) met on at 

Present, brethren 

(If the first meeting, organized by appointing Bro. 
Chairman, and Bro. Clerk.) Bro. in the chail 

Prayer by Bro. 

Minutes of last meeting read, corrected, and approved. 
Unfinished business. 
New business. 
Adjourned to meet on 

Clerk. 



MINUTES OF OCCASIONAL CONVENTIONS. 

A Convention assembled at on the day of 

at A. M., to take into consideration 
The meeting was called to order by and 

was nnanimonsly chosen Chairman, and 
Secretary. 
The Chairman then read the call by which the meeting 
was convened, and stated the objects of the Convention, 
whereupon 

Chairman. 
Secretary. 



RULES OF ORDER, 



ORGANIZATION OF AN ASSEMBLY. 

Every deliberative assembly, becomes de facto subject to 
those rules and forms of proceeding, necessary to the accom- 
plishment of the purposes of its convocation. 

When assembled according to appointment, any individual 
may call the members to order, announcing the arrival of the 



98 RULES OF ORDER. 

time of the meeting, and suggesting the necessity of organiz- 
ing by the appointment of a Chairman, before proceeding to 
business. The same person should put the question upon a 
nomination for presiding officer, and declare the election. 

The chairman taking his seat, should proceed in the same 
manner to complete the organization of the assembly, by the 
choice of Secretary, and such other officers as may be deemed 
necessary. 

In all deliberative assemblies, the members of which are 
chosen to represent others, it is necessary after this tempo- 
rary, and before the permanent organization, or when the as- 
sembly is permanently organized, before proceeding to any 
other business, to ascertain by committee or otherwise, who 
are properly members. 

Councils or Boards, holding stated meetings, cannot 
properly proceed to business, unless a prescribed number, 
called a quorum, are present, and should suspend business 
when reduced below that number, by the absence of mem- 
bers. 

When the number of a quorum has not been determined 
by rule, the majority of the members composing the as- 
sembly constitute said quorum. 

In adopting rules of business, it is usual to provide for the 
mode of their amendment, suspension, or repeal. But where 
there is no provision, a rule cannot be suspended in a particu- 
lar case, except by general consent. 

When any existing rules of proceeding are disregarded or 
infringed, any member has a right to require the enforcement 
of the rule, without debate or delay, it then being too late to 
alter or suspend it for that particular case. 

All questions should be decided by a majority of votes; 
unless by special provision, less than a majority be allowed, 
or more than a majority required to effect a decision. 

When a constitution, with its various provisions, has been 
adopted, the permanent officers should be elected. They 
should be elected by absolute majorities. 

PRESIDING OFFICER. 
It is the duty of the presiding officer to call the members to 
order at the proper time ; to announce the business in its 



RULES OF ORDER. 99 

order, before the assembly ; to receive and submit all motions 
presented by the members ; pat to vote all questions regUr 
larly moved, and announce the result ; to enforce the ob- 
servance of order in the debate, and decorum among the 
members ; to receive and announce communications ; to au- 
thenticate by his signature, when necessary, the acts and 
proceedings of the assembly ; to inform the assembly when 
necessary, or when referred to for the purpose, on a point of 
order or practice ; to name Committees, when directed in a 
particular case, or when it is made a part of his general duty 
by a rule ; and in general, to represent and stand for the as- 
sembly, declaring its will, and in all things obeying implicity 
its commands. 

In case of the absence of the Chairman, or of his with- 
drawing from the chair, for the purpose of participating in 
the business, the Vice-President shall preside, and if there 
be no Vice-President, a presiding officer must be elected, pro 
tempore, the Secretary conducting tbe proceedings meantime. 
The presiding officer should rise to state a motion, or put a 
question to the assembly ; should give the closest attention to 
each speaker, remembering that but one subject can be be- 
fore the assembly at once ; and when brought into doubt as to 
his manner of proceeding, should remember that the great 
purpose of all rules and forms, is to subserve the will of the 
assembly, rather than restrain it, to facilitate and not ob= 
struct the expression of their deliberate sense. 

SECRETARY. 

The principal duty of the Secretary in legislative assem- 
blies, is to preserve the record of what is done and past, not 
including what is merely said or moved. In more informal 
bodies, though governed by the spirit of this rule, he is also 
expected to keep in some sort, an account of the proceedings ; 
to call the roll of the assembly when a call is ordered ; read 
papers required to be read ; notify Committees of their ap- 
pointment ; authenticate all the proceedings of the assembly 
by his signature ; and preserve the papers and books belong- 
ing to the assembly. The clerk should stand while reading 
or calling the assembly. 



100 RULES OF ORDER. 

MEMBERS. 

All members have an equal privilege of submitting, ex- 
plaining and advocating propositions. 

No member in the course of debate shall be allowed to in- 
dulge in personal reflections. 

If more than one member rise to speak at the same time, 
the member that is most distant from the Moderator's chair, 
shall speak first. 

If any member consider himself as aggrieved by a decision 
of the Moderator, it shall be his privilege to appeal to the as- 
sembly, and the question on such appeal shall be taken with- 
out debate. 

No member should decline voting on any question unless 
excused by the assembly, and silent members should be con- 
sidered as acquiescing with the majority, unless excused from 
voting. 

Every proposition before the Assembly should be reduced 
to writing, at the request of the Moderator or any member. 

PREVIOUS QUESTION. 

A proposition may be suppressed by the previous question, 
put in the following form : ' ' Shall the main question now be 
put. " 

If the previous question is decided in the negative, it may 
not be renewed the same session. 

The affirmative decision of the previous question, requires 
the original motion to be immediately put, without further 
debate and in the form in which it exists. 

INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT. 

A proposition may be suppressed entirely by the motion for 
indefinite postponement. As an indefinite adjournment is 
equivalent to the dissolution of an assembly, the indefinite 
postponement of a subject, entirely disposes of it. 

A subject thus postponed cannot be called up again the 
same session, unless by the consent of three-fourths of the 
members who were present at the decision 



RULES OF ORDER. 101 

LAYING ON THE TABLE. 

A proposition may be postponed for information or reflec- 
tion, and examination, or for opportunity to attend to some- 
thing else claiming present attention. 

If laid on the table for this purpose, it may be taken up by 
motion, at the convenience of the assembly ; if postponed to 
a particular hour, it must be taken up at the time specified ; 
if laid on the table to give place to other business, if not 
called up by motion, it remains as though indefinitely post- 
poned. 

REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE. 

A proposition may be referred to a standing or select Com- 
mittee, with discretionary power, or with general or particular 
instruction, or parts of the proposition may be referred to 
different Committees for the purpose of having the subject 
more thoroughly considered, and presented to the assembly 
in a more satisfactory manner. 

DIVISION OF A QUESTION. 

When a proposition comprises several distinct parts, which 
are so far independent of each other as to be susceptible of 
division into several questions, and it is supposed that the as- 
sembly may approve of some, but not of all these parts, by 
the order of the assembly on a motion regularly made and 
seconded (or at the request of the Moderator or any member, 
if there be no objection), that proposition may be divided, and 
the parts considered separately, as so many distinct motions. 

FILLING BLANKS. 

Blanks left in a proposition by the mover, may be filled by 
vote of the assembly, taking the question upon the largest 
number, and the longest time, first. 

SIMPLIFYING QUESTIONS. 

Matter embraced in two propositions, may be reduced to 
one by reference to a Committee, with instructions, or by 



102 ETJLES OF OKDER. 

rejecting one and adding the substance of its meaning to the 
other, in an amendment. 

A mover may not modify or withdraw his own motion, 
after discussion, if any member object, without a formal 
vote, 

Nor may a member accept an amendment to his proposition 
after discussion, without its being passed by vote, if any 
member object. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Amendments to a proposition, should be proposed in the 
order of its paragraphs. Amendments may be made in three 
ways, by striking out words, by inserting words, or by strik- 
ing out some words and inserting others. There may be an 
amendment to an amendment, but not an amendment to that 
amendment. The last amendment should be taken first, and 
all motions in that order. 

Whatever is agreed to by the assembly, on a vote either 
adopting or rejecting a proposed amendment, cannot be after- 
wards altered or amended. 

Whatever is disagreed to, in a proposed amendment, by the 
assembly, on a vote, cannot be afterwards moved. - 

The inconsistency of a proposed amendment, with one 
which has already been adopted, is a ground for its rejection 
by the assembly, upon a vote, but not by the moderator. 

Amendments may be made to a proposition not only vary- 
ing its meaning, but presenting a directly opposite sense ; and 
often in legislative assemblies, bills are amended by striking 
out all after the enacting clause and inserting an entirely new 
bill ; and resolutions are amended by striking out all after- 
the words " resolved that," and inserting a proposition of a 
wholly different tenor. 

DIFFERENT MOTIONS. 

When any motion is under debate, no motion can be re- 
ceived unless to amend it, to commit it, to postpone it for the 
previous question, or to adjourn. 

A motion to adjourn takes precedence of all others, and 
when made simply, without specifications of purpose, or time, 
is taken without debate. 



RULES OF ORDER. 103 

^.n adjournment without day is equivalent to a dissolution. 
An adjournment pending the consideration of any subject, 
supersedes that discussion unless again brought forward in 
the usual way. 

Any question upon the rights of members, takes precedence 
of all other motions except for adjournment. 

A motion for the order of the day, previously fixed upon, 
ranks next in privilege to the motion upon the rights of a 
membe r. 

INCIDENTAL QUESTIONS. 

Incidental questions, or such as grow out of the original 
proposition before the assembly, as, questions of order, mo- 
tions for reading of papers, and leave to withdraw a motion, 
and suspension of a rule, and an amendment of an amend- 
ment, must be decided before the question that gave rise to 
them. 

SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

It is a general rule that subsidiary motions, such as to lay 
on the table, for the previous question, for postponement, for 
commitment, or amendment, cannot be applied to each other. 

The exceptions to this rule are, that motions to postpone, 
to commit, or to amend a principal question may be amended ; 
but subsidiary motions can never be applied to dispose of 
or suppress each other. 

ORDER OF PROCEEDING. 

When the proceedings of an assembly are likely to last a 
considerable time, and the matters before it are somewhat 
numerous, an order of business should be determined. When 
no such order exists, and several subjects are before the as- 
sembly for their consideration, and the assembly take no 
motion as to what subject to take up first, the presiding officer 
is not bound to any order, but may use his own discretion. 

In considering a proposition consisting of several para- 
graphs, after the paper has once been read by the clerk, the 
presiding officer should read it through in paragraphs, pausing 
upon each, for opportunity to amend, and when the whole 



104 RULES OF ORDER. 

paper has been gone through with in this manner, the final 
question on adopting or agreeing to the whole paper as 
amended or unamended, should be put. 

When a paper referred to a committee has been reported 
back to the assembly, the amendments only are first read in 
course, by the clerk. The presiding officer then puts the 
question on the several amendments in their order ; afterward 
miscellaneous amendments may be proposed by the assembly, 
and when these are gone through, the question is put on 
agreeing to, or adopting the paper as the resolution, or order, 
of the assembly. 

ORDER IN DEBATE. 

The presiding officer is not expected to take part in debate, 
but may state matters of fact within his knowledge, affecting 
the subject under discussion ; inform the assembly on points 
of order, when necessary ; and address the assembly upon 
any appeal from his decision on any question of order. 

A member rising to speak in the assembly, shall address the 
presiding officer and not proceed till his name is called by 
that officer. 

When several rise together, the chair shall decide who 
shall speak first. It is usual to give a preference to the 
mover of a resolution, or after an adjournment to the mover of 
the adjournment, or when two rise together to give the 
preference to the opponent of the measure. 

When a member gives way to another to speak, he really 
resigns the floor, and can retain it only by the common con- • 
sent, or vote of the assembly. 

The presiding officer may have preference to other mem- 
bers on subjects upon which it is proper for him to speak, 
but may not interrupt a member, unless out of order, to speak 
himself. 

Members must confine themselves in speaking, to the sub- 
ject under discussion. 

When called to order, for irrelevancy, the speaker may pro- 
ceed, unless a motion prevail that he is out of order. 

No member should speak more than once upon the same 



RULES OF ORDER. 105 

question, unless permitted by the assembly, while others, 
who have not spoken, wish to speak, unless it be to explain ; 
but he may not interrupt a speaker to explain. 

To shorten debate, resort may be had to the previous ques- 
tion (this liberty is very liable to abuse and should generally 
be discountenanced), or a special order may be determined in 
reference to a particular subject, requiring all debate upon it 
to cease at a specified time, or the time allowed to each 
speaker may be limited. 

Respectful attention should be paid to every speaker. 

If a member use language offensive or insulting to another, 
he may be stopped by one or more rising for the purpose, or 
by the Moderator, and the words objected to, stated or written 
down on the minutes of the clerk, that the offender may dis- 
claim, or apologize for the offence, or receive the censure of 
the assembly. 

TAKING THE QUESTION. 

A proposition made to a deliberative assembly, is called a 
motion ; when propounded to the assembly for their reception 
or rejection, it is denominated a question ; when adopted, it 
becomes the order, resolution, or vote of the assembly. 

The proposition is propounded in this form : " As many as 
are of opinion that, etc.," first in the affirmative, and then in 
the negative. The expression may be given according to the 
order of the assembly by saying aye or nay, by raising the 
hand, or by the clerk's taking the ayes and nays. In the for- 
mer cases, which are more common, the presiding officer de- 
cides the vote from the sound of voices or the appearance of 
hands. If the decision be doubted, the division of the house 
may be called for, the members voting in the affirmative and 
negative, taking different parts of the house, or rising as 
called upon and standing to be counted. If the decision has 
been declared, a member coming in cannot call for division, 
nor can any person, after other business has been taken up. 

If the members are equally divided upon a question, the 
presiding officer may give the casting vote, or by declining to 
vote leave the proposition negatived. 

Every person is bound, unless excused, to vote on all ques 
tions. 



106 RULES OF ORDER. 

A person not present when the question is taken cannot 
give his vote. 

Before the negative has been taken, a member may rise and 
speak or propose amendments, and thus renew the debate. 
But in modes of taking the question when the vote begins on 
both sides at once, the debate cannot be renewed, and an at- 
tempt to speak is out of order. 

If a question arise upon a point of order, for example, as to 
the right or duty of a member to vote while the division is 
taking place, the chair must decide peremptorily, subject to 
the correction of the assembly after the division is over. 

RECONSIDERATION. 

It is a fundamental principle in parliamentary proceedings, 
that a question once decided cannot again be brought up. 
This principle is adhered to in all its strictness, in the British 
parliament, but in this country, while the principle is recog- 
nized, provision is made against the great inconvenience that 
might sometimes attend it, by the motion for reconsideration. 

This motion is allowed only when moved by one voting in 
the majority, and when there are as many present as when 
the resolution passed. 

The passage of the resolution for reconsideration places the 
question precisely where it was before the decision, and leaves 
it open for discussion, amendment, adoption or rejection. 

COMMITTEES. 

It is common in deliberative assemblies, to have matters 
prepared to be acted upon by a committee selected for that- 
particular purpose, called a select committee, or by a com- 
mittee appointed beforehand, to have charge of all matters 
of a similar nature. 

They may receive instructions when the business is given 
in charge, or at any stage of its progress, or be allowed dis- 
cretionary power. 

Committees may be appointed by the chairman in pursuance 
of a standing rule or vote of the assembly, or by nomination 
and vote of the members. 

The first named on a committee, is by courtesy, generally 



KULES OF ORDER. 10? 

regarded as chairman ; hut the committee are at liberty to 
appoint their own chairman, and proceed in their business, in 
the order and under the rules of an assembly, being one in 
miniature. 

When their report is made, a motion is made by some 
member to receive the report then, or at some fixed time. 
At the time appointed, the chairman of the committee reads 
the report, and it is then passed to the clerk and read by him, 
and then lies on the table awaiting the convenience of the as- 
sembly to take it up for consideration. The formality of re- 
ceiving a report is often dispensed with. The reception of a 
report, by consent or vote, discharges the (unless a standing) 
committee. 

The doings of a committee, when adopted, or agreed to, in 
the final question upon a report, becomes the action of the 
assembly. 

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. 

When a question has been ordered to be referred to a 
committee of the whole, at the time appointed, the presiding 
officer, upon a motion made, puts the question that the as- 
sembly do now resolve itself into a committee of the whole, 
naming the business to be taken up in that capacity. If the 
motion pass, the presiding officer names a chairman, and 
takes his place among the members. Thus organized, the 
committee is under the same laws that govern assemblies, 
with the following exceptions : 

The chairman has the same privilege to speak that other 
members have. 

Members are not restricted as to the time of speaking. 

The previous question is not admissible. 

No sub-committees can be appointed from itself. 

They cannot adjourn like other committees to some other 
time or place ; but when they rise, if their business is un- 
finished, can ask permission of the assembly to sit again. 

When their business is finished, some one moves that the 
committee rise, and the chairman, or some other person, re 
port to the assembly. Whereupon the presiding officer of 
the assembly takes his seat, and the business of the assembly 
is resumed. 



108 CHUECH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. 



CHURCH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. 



CHRISTIANITY AND BENEFICENCE. 

The religious obligation of beneficence is attested by con- 
fiding its administration to Pagan, Jewish, and Mohamme- 
dan temples. To whatever shrine brought, on whatever altar 
laid, religious offerings were sacrifices of the selfishness of 
the worshiper to the glory of the being worshiped. Sur- 
rendering what is dearest, as in Abraham offering his only 
son, was an expression of supreme homage. Though min- 
imizing ritual and magnifying devotion of the heart, Christi- 
anity makes giving as essential to her discipline as prayer 
or praise, confession of faith or observance of ordinances. 
Having " all things in common " in the Early Church, dur- 
ing the distress of persecution, was but a manifestation of 
the unselfishness inspired by Christian love, which has been 
repeated in similar trials of the Church through the centu- 
ries, and rising above temporal wants is ever culminating in 
sacrifices to spread the name of Him who suffered on the 
Cross to save men. In this age of mammon worship pecun- 
iary offerings, next to forgiveness of enemies, is perhaps the 
rarest of Christian virtues. The requirement of every be- 
liever to lay aside weekly offerings according as God has 
prospered him, is more generally evaded, and with more 
subtle self-deception than any other Christian precept. 

CHURCH EXPENSES. 

In new States and frontier settlements the pastor is often 
required to take the lead in building meeting houses, and in 
financial support of the church, as well as in its organiza- 
tion and discipline. In older communities he should be 
familiar with church finances, to guard against doubtful 



CHURCH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. 109 

measures for improving them, and to be able to sympathize 
with the Church in sacrifices for her credit and usefulness. 

The pastor should dissuade the church from going into 
debt for any purpose without the promise of its early liqui- 
dation. 

When, from smallness of income or special expenses, in- 
debtedness is accruing, there should be provision at least for 
its quarterly payment. In weak churches, it is better to make 
weekly settlements of all obligations. It is perilous alike to 
church and pastor to mortgage church property to meet cur- 
rent expenses. It is better that a pastor should leave than 
have money borrowed for his salary. The apostolic order 
against individual believers incurring debts they may not be 
able to pay, seems to have a double force against a church of 
Christ compromising its honor by allowing its obligations to 
remain uncancelled. Financial support should be pledged 
in the reception of members; aud co-operation with the 
established.pl ans of the Church for her own support and the 
support of missions should be a condition on which every 
member is welcomed into the church. 

The average church appointments under the voluntary 
religious system of America are more expensive and more 
attractive than those of the national establishments of Eu- 
rope, provided by a tax upon the parish. Thousands of 
church edifices are built each year in older and newer 
States and territories, mainly from local contributions, thus 
pre-occupying the spiritual domain against aggressive athe- 
ism and infidelity. An early provision of a suitable place of 
worship becomes the necessary care of pastors on frontier 
and mission fields. Often lots and materials and liberal 
moneyed contributions cheer the incipience of the enter- 
prise. But in nine cases out of ten some indebtedness must 
be assumed before completing proper places of worship. 
Experience has shown that where about two-thirds of the 
cost of the enterprise may be secured during the progress of 
the building, the remaining third may be obtained at the 
time of its dedication. As a rule it has proved safe to build 
churches when at least one of the patrons is willing to give 



110 CHURCH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. 

a tenth of the cost, though sometimes less suffices and some- 
times more is necessary. There should be spiritual prepara- 
tion for first subscriptions, and for final contributions at the 
dedication. The friends of the church should be made to 
feel that the debt honorably resting upon them collectively 
is not increased when assessed upon them individually, but 
may be much more easily handled. The wise building of the 
house of the Lord greatly increases the liberality, unity, 
and spirituality of the church and is attended by revivals, 
and often inaugurates a series of revivals and aggressive 
church extension and mission work. A loan from Church 
Edifice Funds, to be repaid with little or no interest, for the 
help of other feeble churches in similar struggles to build 
the house of the Lord, enables a church to obtain a church- 
home earlier, and build better than their own resources un- 
aided would allow. Every church should be encouraged to 
obtain a parsonage at the earliest possible moment. A debt 
for a parsonage carries itself in the pastor's rent, and when 
paid for, it is usually an addition to the pastor's salary, now 
everywhere too small without such perquisite. In new 
towns a parsonage lot may be obtained as a gift or for a small 
price, thus giving stability to the finances of the church, and 
in the end assuring a more adequate support for the pastor. 

MISSIONARY FINANCE. 

While church expenses and immediate home charities so 
force themselves upon the attention of the churches as to 
obtain more or less recognition from all ; remoter charities 
and foreign missions seem so far away as to appear almost 
foreign to the church, to be attended to or neglected at their 
option. Therefore the comprehensiveness and universal obli- 
gation of the great commission should be often illustrated 
from the pulpit. Besides, every pastor should give person- 
ally to the objects he pleads for, if but the widow's mite, that 
his plea may not be discredited by his example. Often his 
sacrifice in giving may become his most effective champion- 
ship of Christian charities and missions. 



CHURCH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. Ill 

Every pastor should also feel himself responsible for train- 
ing his church in aggressive benevolence. As a general 
may select those of the highest military experience and 
skill to co-operate with him in a campaign, the pastor should 
avail himself of the best gifts of the Church in organizing 
plans of benevolence. But he may no more remit to others 
the direction of Christian charities and missions, without his 
active sympathy and co-operation, than the defence of Chris- 
tian doctrines or the observance of Christian ordinances. 

Moreover, every pastor should feel himself responsible for 
the widest possible diffusion of missionary intelligence. Mis- 
sionary contributions can not be greatly increased without in- 
creased interest in missions, nor increased interest in mis- 
sions be expected without increase of missionary intelli- 
gence. There should be a stated distribution of missionary 
reports, and circulation of special missionary publications 
and bulletins. Also a demand should be created for a higher 
order of catholic missionary literature, prepared with the 
highest style of art, and at whatever cost, for all denomina- 
tions alike, and made to rival popular magazines in their cir- 
culation through colportage and other special agencies. 

But especially journalism, declared by an eminent writer 
to be the idea of the age, should be made a chief agency for 
spreading missionary intelligence and emphasizing mission- 
ary appeal. It could be made the common interest of the 
religious weeklies claiming Christian churches as their con- 
stituency, to become the organs of missionary societies. 
They might obtain what would become an attractive feature 
of their weekly issue, without cost, and perhaps with an add- 
ed bonus, from missionary secretaries, while the societies 
might gain ten readers of their appeals where one is ob- 
tained through special organs. Instead of reading a relig- 
ious weekly, many Christians are now tempted to be satisfied 
with some single special publication, thereby developing one- 
sided intelligence and character. Strong denominations must 
have strong journals, and journals become stronger as they 
become the accepted organs of all the charities and missions 
of a denomination. 



112 CHUKCH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. 

Pastors should co-operate with the societies in unifying 
their agencies, so that each agent might work more specifi- 
cally to educate the churches in systematic benevolence, ra- 
ther than plead for one of many competing claims; help the 
churches to do their own w T ork rather than attempt to do it 
for them ; endeavor to organize a plan of benevolence for the 
churches to carry out and report upon themselves, rather 
than obtain a collection. 

The pastor should make all appeals for beneficence as spe- 
cific as possible. All great givers, as founders or patrons of 
schools or charities, are specific givers. 

Three-fourths of the charities which relieve and bless suf- 
fering humanity are unreported, and are bestowed upon 
objects appealing directly and personally for sympathy and 
succor. 

The philosophy of benevolence requires that donors and 
recipients should be brought together face to face, as far as 
possible, for the highest educational effect on both giver and 
receiver. 

The assertion of this principle has been so effective that 
missionary societies have found it expedient to provide more 
or less fully for its operation. But as an exception to gene- 
ral policy this specific giving is too frequent, and entails 
difficulties, but is not frequent enough to test its wisdom as 
a general policy of missions. Charities and missions which 
could not be farmed out to individuals, might be to churches, 
associations of churches, cities, or states, thus gaining more 
of the advantages of specific appeal. On this principle all . 
missionary collections might gain the enlargement of special 
collections, increasing contributions three or five fold. 
Through this appeal many individuals and churches that 
have never given to missions, would be enrolled as stated 
contributors. 

Finally, every pastor should see to it that some method of 
Christian benevolence be adopted by the church. The 
tithe system of the Jews was a more effective regime of char- 
ity than has yet been attained by modern Christians. The 
tenth of one's income would seem to be the lowest standard 



CHURCH BEXEVOLEXCES AND FIXAXCE. 113 

any church should establish, binding all its members as a 
poll tax citizens of some States. But a larger percentage of 
charities might reasonably be expected in the economy of 
Christ's Kingdom, heralded by the sacrifice of its founder, 
but less should never be accepted as fulfilling the vow of dis- 
cipleship to Christ. The widow's mite may be as important 
as an educational example for the Church as the ampler 
offerings of the Christian millionaire. 

SYSTEMATIC GIVING. 

The necessity and best methods of systematic benevolence 
have been widely and wisely discussed the last few years. 

" Principles and Plans of Systematic Beneficence " recom- 
mended by The Presbyterian General Assembly, may be had 
of the 'Leader Printing Company," Cleveland, Ohio. 

In " Baptist Layman's Book," published by the American 
Publication Society, Philadelphia, may be found a general 
discussion of the subject, together with outlines of methods 
adopted by leading Baptist Churches. 

From "Layman," 310 Ashland Avenue, Chicago, may be 
obtained, gratuitously, some of the best and perhaps the most 
effective tracts published on Christian giving. 

The promise of Systematic Giving may be illustrated : 

A church of one hundred members, giving only a twentieth 
of the supposed income of classes of her members, instead 
of a tenth, would provide liberally for Church expenses, 
and also for Christian benevolence. Six members earn- 
ing eighteen dollars per week each, would give $5.40. Four- 
teen earning fifteen dollars per week each, would give $10.50. 
Thirty members, each earning twelve dollars per week, would 
give $18. Thirty members, each earning six dollars per 
week, would give $9. Twenty, earning each three dollars, 
would give $3 per week. By this classification of contribu- 
tions a church of a hundred members would give about $46 
per week, or about $2,400 per year, enabling the church to 
pay $1,500 for pastor's salary; $200 for sexton; $100 for gas; 
$75 for coal ; interest on a debt of $5,000, if one existed ; and 
still have a balance sufficient to give $40 for Foreign 



114 CHURCH BENEVOLENCES AND FINANCE. 

missions; $40 for Home missions; $25 for publication soci- 
ety; $25 for Bible work; $25 for State work; $30 for minis- 
terial education ; and $18 for ministers' widows' fund. 

A pastor of Providence, E. I., introduced systematic giv- 
ing into bis cburcb, and later into other churches of Rhode 
Island, and with the following results : 

" All of our churches have secured most satisfactory re- 
sults. Some of the smallest churches in the State, which are 
situated in the rural districts, report that their contributions 
have doubled, and the number of givers more than doubled. 

li All the pastors are enthusiastically favorable to the plan. 
Nothing could induce the church to return to the old system 
or lack of system. 

"Many who did not give before give now, and the contri- 
butions are largely increased. 

" The system secures the small gifts of a congregation and 
swells them into a large volume. For nine persons out of 
ten it is easier to give twenty-five cents every week than it is 
to give thirteen dollars once a year. 

" A capital mistake in our ordinary methods is that the 
few give and not the many; while the large streams of 
benevolence flow, the small rills are not kept open." 



" Every one of you, on the first day of the week, as God 
hath prospered him — is a law of giving to which nothing 
can be added, and from which nothing can be subtracted. It 
is complete and of universal application. It is pre-emi- 
nently for the pastors to say whether' this shall be the law 
of giving in our churches or not. The will to do it will 
make the way of doing it plain, and every church in which 
it is done will give one more illustration making manifest 
the doctrine of literal obedience to Scripture commands." 

'* A wiser rule than this is yet to be discovered. It unites 
the advantages of frequent, regular, and considerate giving. 
It associates this form of service with the special worship 
of God, and brings it into the whole plan of life. If Chris- 
tians would but comply with this direction of the apostle, the 
glory of the Lord would soon cover the earth. " 



CHURCH BENEVOEESfCES AND FINANCE. 115 

SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS. 

God claims a portion of our substance : 

And all the tithes of the land, whether of the seed of the 
land, or of the fruit cf the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy unto 
the Lord. — Lev. xxvii. 30. 
'Withholding this claim is to rob God : 

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye 
say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 
—JIal. iii. 8. 
Therefore the claim should be attended to promptly : 

And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the chil- 
dren of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of corn, 
wine and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; 
and the tithes of all the things brought they in abundantly. 
— 2 Chron. xxxi. 5. 

Worldly prosperity promised to those who honor God with 
their substance : 

Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first 
fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with 
plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. — Prov, 
iii. 9-10. 
It should be given willingly : 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let 
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a 
cheerful giver. — 2 Cor. ix. 7. 

Does poverty or limited means excuse any one from giving to 
the Lord : 

They shall not appear before the Lord empty : every man 
shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the 
Lord thy God which he hath given thee. — Deut. xvi. 17-18. 

And none shall appear before me empty. — Ex. xxxiv. 20. 
Give that something every Sunday : 

Upon the first day of the week. — I Cor. xvi. 2. 
According to blessing received : 

According as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. — Deut. 
xvi. 10. As God hath prospered him. — 1 Cor. xvi. 2. 



Jan. 



PASTORAL TABLE. 
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec 



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NOTE. 



The first two tables are designed to preserve a statistical record of 
professional services, and the abbreviations in the margin will be easily 
understood. 

The Third table is designed to preserve the statistics of the principal 
Religious denominations, Pas. is an abbreviation for Pastor, Mem. for 
Members, and Ch. for Churches, A. stands for American, and F. for For- 
eign, Var. M. Various Methodists, Yar. B. Various Baptists. 

The Fourth table is designed to preserve the statistics of the Missions 
of the principal denominations. Stat's. Stations, Miss. Missionaries or 
Missions, Cot's. Communicants, and A. and F. in this table denote the 
location of denominations and not of their missions. 

The Fifth table is designed to preserve the statistics of changes, of 
religious labors, and of benevolent contributions of Churches. Ba. is an 
abbreviation for Baptism, L. Letter, Ds. Dismission, Ex. Exclusion, De. 
Death, Pr. Present, No. Number, Sc. Scholars, Te. Teachers, Cs. Conver- 
sions, B.C. Bible class, Ch. Church, Bi. Sc. Bible Society, Fo. Ms. Foreign 
Missions, Ho. Ms. Home Missions, Do. Ms. Domestic Missions, S. C. 
Sunday School cause, T. C. Tract cause, Se. C. Seamen's cause, Vs. Ob 
Various objects. 



RECORD OF MARRIAGES. 



WITNESSES. 



RECORD OF FUNERAL SERVICES. 



DATE. BURIAL PLACE. THEME USED 



pv 



